29/08/2014 South East Today

September will settle down with Sony spells and it will get warmer --

sunny spells. A story with a happy ending.

There was no doubt in mind that he was going to kill me.

The Hove MP writes to the Prime Minister to highlight fears

Also in tonight's programme, striking gold, the lucky bounty

hunters who've found treasure buried by an artist on Folkestone beach.

We're there live this evening as the digging continues.

Shopping trollies as you've never seen them and other

unusual ideas at the Canterbury festival for families this weekend.

And taking a Tumble, the gymnastics coach tasked with

training pop star Sarah Harding for the BBC's Saturday Night contest.

A Sussex doctor whose life was put in danger by a stalker with

a violent history has spoken about her trauma for the first time.

Alison Hewitt says she lived in fear for months, in no doubt that Al Amin

He was jailed for six years in 2012 after a sustained campaign

Speaking to our reporter Piers Hopkirk, she says she is starting

It has had an absolutely massive impact on myself, my

self`confidence. It has had a massive impact on my relationships,

with my family and friends, I became very shut down as a person, closed

off. Reliving her ordeal at the hands of her stalker. Alison Hewitt

says she is grateful to be alive to tell her story. In hindsight, having

seen all the evidence in the court case, the suggestions that were

made, it was no doubt in my mind that, yes, he was going to kill me.

Alison met Canadian Al`Amin Dhalla to a online dating agency. After the

relationship soured, he set upon a campaign of terror. Setting fire to

her parent's home, and forcing police to airlift the family to

safety from their holiday home. It was awful, a horrendous time for my

family, it was also incredibly surreal. I remember it wasn't really

until a few days after when I went to view my parent's house started

began to sink in, that is really when I fell to pieces. Dhalla was

eventually arrested at the hospital where Alison worked, he has

disguised himself as a doctor. In his specially adapted van, police

found a cage, knife and claw hammer. Our belief is that his intent was to

kidnap and murder Alison. Possibly her parents as well. Ultimately, we

think we have prevented up to three murders. Al`Amin Dhalla is serving

six years, Alison and her family were awarded damages for the

failings that allowed Dhalla into the country in the first place. She

says writing a book have been therapeutic. I have moved on my

life, I have been working, I am in a new relationship I'm in generally a

better place. A Kent children's centre worker who

penned an explicit semi`biographical novel has lost her job

after complaints from parents. Bettina Bunte based her book

on her own affair with an older man But officials have ended her

employment, because of doubts Our hands gently, carefully pull out

her shirt until there is enough space to pull it back. Bettina

Bunte's novel is enough to make you blush. I was surprised, I didn't

expect to lose my job over it. I did tell them that I felt their reaction

was out of proportion and judgemental. Bettina Bunte has

worked as an assistant at this school for around four years. I am

an ex`colleague of hers and she was brilliant to work with. I am very

upset at the way she has been treated. I wish her well with the

book. Kent County Council which runs the centre, says concerns expressed

by parents and staff after Bettina Bunte publicised her book. They say

they call her in for a meeting to discuss those concerns, but

concluded that there were still doubts about her suitability to work

here, silly ended her employment. There was some support for the

County Council's decision. I don't think this is appropriate material

for someone dealing with children every day. As long as it is kept

completely separate, I don't mind. It doesn't seem appropriate for her

to be working with children. Having that kind of work published. Bettina

Bunte was on a temporary contract, but says she had just been offered a

full`time contract, which has since been withdrawn. It is fictional

creation, has nothing to do the day`to`day care of children, I think

it is disturbing that we having this discussion in 2014. Bettina Bunte

was promoting her book in Herne Bay today, but has only sold around 30

copies so far. She accepts that she has no legal rights, and says she

will have to find another job. In a moment, that drilling home his

message. The Chancellor visits the area.

Members of a synagogue in Hove which was defaced with graffiti say

they feel uncomfortable and worried about what they claim

Vandals wrote "free Gaza" on the side of the Holland Road

Synagogue. New graffiti has also appeared on road signs in the city.

The local MP has written to David Cameron, saying he is disgusted.

But pro`Palestinian groups say this does not reflect the atmosphere

It may seem hundreds of miles away, but for members of one synagogue in

homes, the Gaza conflict could not be closer. Graffiti was found on the

synagogue earlier. People feel insecure, they feel that they are

somehow being held to blame personally for what has happened in

the Middle East. There is definitely a degree of discomfort. The graffiti

was sprayed about these two windows on the side of the synagogue. The

community believe it is evidence of the increasing tensions in Brighton

and Hove. This is now becoming the kind of place I have never seen

before. We harp part of the community, I am a bright and local.

I am also Jewish and a Zionist. We don't feel unwelcome, but we do feel

that there is an element that is making things tougher for us.

Something we have not seen possibly since the Second World War. Now the

local MP is so concerned, he has written to David Cameron.

Members of the Brighton friends of Palestine, say the group is not

anti`Semitic. Most people involved in Palestine solidarity movements

are very opposed to equating Judaism and Zionism, try to make them feel

that this is an isolated incident and it wasn't something that any of

the Palestine Solidarity activists in Brighton support. An isolated

incident that has had a community wide effects.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault on a 23`year`old man

It followed an argument with another motorist.

The driver they want to speak to is an Asian man, around 5' 8",

He was wearing a dark hooded top and dark shorts or jeans.

Officers are also appealing for witnesses to the incident on

Toll charges on the Dartford River Crossing have been temporarily

suspended because of a large diesel spillage. The accident closed the

exit of one of the tunnels. All lanes have opened, but the charges

will remain suspended until congestion is released.

More than 1800 bottles of wine have been stolen

Burglars forced their way into the Winehouse on Brighton Road in

Shoreham and stole the bottles of 2012 Chablis worth nearly ?15,000.

The owners say that the thieves, who would have needed a van, struck

They had obviously been in as a potential customer,

identified where the alarm system was and how it operated.

But rather sillily, they have taken products where, in one case,

we are the only person in the UK that imports them from Chablis.

A couple of others that would be easily identified in the locality.

The Chancellor said today that people in the South East

"need to focus" at the next election on which party will hand people

George Osborne visited Brighton and Hastings at the end of a week which

has seen UKIP launch an offensive to woo voters in Kent and Sussex.

And his message came as a Kent Tory district councillor announced he was

Our political reporter Ellie Price has more.

It has been a big week for Nigel Farage and his self styled people's

army. On Tuesday, the UKIP leader and MEP was confirmed as a candidate

for South Thanet. Somebody once said that I am David Cameron's worst

might I `` nightmare, that isn't good enough, I want to be Ed

Miliband's two. Now a Conservative MP has stepped down and intends to

fight the next election as a UKIP candidate. Nigel Farage says they

will be more defections. This Tory councillor from Sevenoaks has also

decided to defect. I have seen how some of their councils work, I look

at their idea of Britain and it is how the Conservatives used to be.

Today, the Chancellor, visiting a theatre in Brighton, gave a relaxed

performance given the news. A message he was keen to drill home in

Hastings. It is only a Conservative government and that will give people

here in Hastings and across the Southeast a referendum on membership

of the European Union. You don't have to take my word for it, Douglas

Carswell said it himself. Many people considering voting for UKIP

and not just worried about a referendum, you are misunderstanding

their reasons, it will nonetheless split the vote and you are under

risk from Labour aren't you? It is the welfare reforms we are

delivering, the controls of immigration we are proposing, and

the referendum, all of these issues, they can see real progress under the

Conservative led government. George Osborne says it will be for voters

decide next May, might have promises more upset for then. `` Nigel

Farage. Ellie, there have been more defections to UKIP, and we're

expecting any more? Yes, up to eight Tory MPs, according to one UKIP

member. That is something that they have vehemently denied. One Tommy he

won't be defecting and leave the party political posturing to others.

`` one that told me. The names and numbers don't matter, it is

speculation and Mr that is viable to UKIP. `` and at the stirrer. Also in

tonight's programme, gymnastics and said to strictly, but can a Kent

coach have success in tumble. You may have heard of a heatwave, but

will it arrive in time for the weekend?

Bounty hunters have dug up at least two ingots of gold

on Folkestone Harbour Beach, according to the organisers

30 ingots of gold, worth between ?250 and ?500 each,

have been buried in the sand by a German artist.

Gold diggers have flocked there for a second day. Our reporter Charlie

Rose is there, it was thought Charlie, that metal detectorists

It hasn't really happened Polly, in answer to your question, it is full

of families and children. Just like here, huge holes, families with

their kids, young and old are digging with shovels, desperately

trying to find the gold ingots which have been buried in the sand here.

It is amazing, I haven't seen this before. The ultimate treasure hunt

here in South Folkestone. Digging for gold on the beach in Folkestone.

Have you found anything? No. Do you think you'll find anything maybe we

found a wooden boat, a bit of wood and some metal plates. We live

locally anyway, we like coming to the beach, to give them a reason to

dig holes, have a family get`together, it is a nice thing to

do. Some people had a more high`tech approach to their search. What we

are looking for is a certain number on here. We are looking for number

37, that is a number for gold. But it backtrack `` it discriminates

against other types of metal, so we should find one. Have you? Is it

cheating gritter Mark not really, we're just using technology `` is it

cheating? The tide meant the window for digging had gone, but as the

tide disappeared, so too did the treasure hunters. We know there were

two found in the afternoon. It is not a hoax then? Absolutely not, I

held them in my hand and helped buried them. I know roughly where

they were, but now? Who knows. After all the digging... If you are down

here and need help, this is what you should be looking for. Joining me

now is the event organiser. Has anything changed since last we

spoke? There is a rumour, as you can imagine no, some people are keeping

quiet if they find one. There is a rumour wanders onto this afternoon.

Three in total, it is a rumour. You don't never sure if any have been

found, do you? , no we don't, they are only buried about this shallow,

I think it is very probable that people will find one. About 24 hours

a into the announcement, do you know all of them will be found? It could

be years, couldn't it? You could be coming down here as an old man onto

these beaches and find a piece of gold. It might be a long time, but

I'm sure a number will be found over the weekend. Thank you for joining

us. The sun is coming down here, night time is coming, no doubt, the

treasure hunters will be back. I'm sure they will, very determined.

A mad hatters tea party, a shopping trolley ballet

Just some of the attractions for children

and accompanying grown`ups at the Gulbenkian arts centre in Canterbury

this weekend at a mad`cap festival called quite simply "Boing".

If you're running out of inspiration in the summer holidays

The University of Kent site is throwing open its doors for leaping

about, dressing up and enjoying dance, music theatre and film.

This is not Folkestone beach. But these youngsters looked to be having

just as much fun looking for insects as they would be prospecting for

gold. And driven music, dance and mine. There was performances to

entice families to Kent University this weekend. I think that children

had been underserved in terms of the arts for far too long. For a

university, it is a brilliant way for us to engage the community and

the children to come onto a university campus. There are some

pretty slick looking shows like this one. It is a touring performance

from Italy mixing dance and computer technology. It is fun because we do

it a lot of times in different places and it is never the same.

Also because the children are different, but all the situations

and countries are different. It each show is different. We never know how

it will be. There is an emphasis on participation for all. The bounce is

an experience for autistic youngsters. When you are bouncing,

you can ask for more bounce if you feel like more. It really is a lot

of sensory experience. We can adapt to exactly what they want so

everybody gets a magic carpet ride. Many of the events are free. The

university opens the drawbridge to families at this weekend, everything

from trampolines to shopping trolleys.

For 53 years, the Bluebell Railway operated in

isolation from the rest of thAnd you can find out how the Bluebell

proposes to cope with record numbers of passengers on Inside Out on BBC1

to the mainline it's attracted an extra 60,000 visitors a year.

But in order to cope with its success, it still needs

A quarter of a million visitors came to the Bluebell Railway in a year of

its connection to the mainland. Two years ago, we were a ?3 million

business last year we were a ?4 million business. We like to think

of ourselves as professionals. British Railways first tried to

close the line back in 1954. But a battling local resident discovered

that the original parliamentary act which created the line said it was a

statutory service and British rail were forced to reopen it. However a

reluctant British rail only run trains that were of no use to

commuters or shoppers. As the line was little used, they got approval

from Parliament to close it. Bluebell Railway is a business which

can only survive due to the support of a volunteer workforce. We in the

past when from nowhere to nowhere, now we have a mainline connection.

It is part of our job to keep the schedule. Since its creation, the

Bluebell Railway was changed from a project run by a band of enthusiasts

to a multi`million pound business. Recognising that changes were

needed, the Bluebell Railway bought in a man with a impressive history.

He is charged with taking the business forward. I felt very

privileged to double to come here and join the Bluebell Railway team

as chairman to offer some of my experience from the mainline

railways, but at the same time to support the tremendous work that is

done here by volunteers. Change is still underway, volunteers and

chairman alike are adjusting to the new culture of stricter timetables,

long days, more professionalism and the occasional diesel. As well as

making bigger plans for the future. And you can find out how

the Bluebell Railway proposes to cope with record numbers

of passengers on Inside Out on BBC1 Following on from Strictly,

Splash! and Dancing on Ice, primetime TV has

a new celebrity show for the tough Called Tumble,

it pushes its stars to the limit ` and one of the gymastics coaches is

a professional athlete from Kent. Leon Fagbemi is hoping to

somersault into the final with his Jane Witherspoon has been

to meet him in rehearsals. Forget your forward rolls,

this is the Kent gymnast who has telly audiences back`flipping

off their sofas on Saturday nights. Leon has teamed up with former

Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding as they battle it out for the public

vote in the BBC show tumble. It is different,

you have to perform to the cameras, when the red lights come on, you

have to make sure you switch on. It is different,

but there are a lot of things I have taken from my competitive career

that I can include in this, 27`year`old Leon is a former

national tumbling champion and coach who has worked at the Lightning

School of Gymnastics in Sevenoaks. He is keen to encourage others to

follow in his acrobatic footsteps. You can learn so much from

gymnastics. Not only do you learn all

the cool tricks, but you get all the physical strength,

you get mentally disciplined, it is stuff you can take away

and incorporate into other things. We are backstage at the show,

come and have a look through here. The show is filmed here

at the George Lucas stage in Elstree Studios, the place where

they filmed Star Wars. Chewbacca and Darth Vader have

shipped out and been replaced It feels prestigious to be here,

so much stuff has happened To be able to say I performed here

and have been on a show here, As rehearsals get under way

for tomorrow night's live show, Leon is hoping this week's routine

is one more tumble closer to Is the sunshine on its way? This

August has ruined our statistics. We haven't had that many hot days.

Throughout this summer, we have had 17 days where we have got into the

80s. Compared with last day, we had 32 days. `` with last year. This

August has been much cooler and much wetter than normal. Some places in

Kent are only three millimetres of having the wettest August in a long

time. We have more rain tonight, the wind is still strong, even if it is

dry now, the rain will be pushed in the quickly. It won't be heavy or

last that long, but we will have one or two millimetres overnight.

Strong, 15 or 20 Manukau wins. `` miles per hour winds. It means a

dismal start to Saturday, cloudy and wet. Have a Lion, by nine or ten in

the morning, it will be drier `` lie in. Temperatures will get up to 19

or 20 Celsius, the wind is not as strong. A reasonable Saturday, with

a small chance of a shower. On Sunday, there could be an odd

shower, but most of us having a dry day. Not bad for the weekend. If you

are after a heat wave, you must be more patient. By the time we get to

Monday, we will have a shallow moister zone coming over as, it is a

lot of cloud, moist air from horror came Christabel, `` horror came. ``

hurricane. Thanks for watching, that is it from us. Goodbye.