:00:13. > :00:16.Testing times... As consumers are hit by job losses and higher
:00:16. > :00:22.inflation, a leading food bank charity reports a big rise in
:00:22. > :00:27.people coming forward. If it weren't for this service, and we
:00:27. > :00:31.know what to do to be honest. It's a godsend.
:00:31. > :00:34.Good evening and welcome to Spotlight. The Bishop of Truro says
:00:34. > :00:35.some are struggling to afford basic meals and is calling on
:00:35. > :00:38.supermarkets to help those most in need.
:00:38. > :00:41.Also tonight... Free travel row - bus companies in
:00:41. > :00:44.Cornwall say dozens of routes could be axed as a result of proposed
:00:44. > :00:47.cuts in council subsidies. And whether you know the number on
:00:47. > :00:55.every engine or just love the romance, we have a locomotive treat
:00:55. > :00:58.for you. A leading food bank charity has
:00:58. > :01:01.told Spotlight that thousands more people in the South West are
:01:01. > :01:06.relying on food banks as the harsh economic climate shows little sign
:01:06. > :01:10.of easing. Three years ago, there were just three food banks run by
:01:10. > :01:16.the Trussell Trust in the region, helping more than 800 people. Now,
:01:16. > :01:19.there are eight, helping more than 6000 people. It comes as a leading
:01:19. > :01:23.clergyman is urging supermarkets to help those in desperate need by
:01:23. > :01:26.supporting food banks. The Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim
:01:26. > :01:36.Thornton, says growing numbers of people are unable to afford basic
:01:36. > :01:36.
:01:36. > :01:42.meals. Our community affairs correspondent reports.
:01:42. > :01:46.The cost of living seems to be going up and up. Bills for fruit,
:01:46. > :01:53.for gas, electricity and transport are rising relentlessly. Some
:01:53. > :01:57.people are unable to afford even the basics. At this supermarket in
:01:57. > :02:05.a row, shoppers are invited to give what they can to help those in need.
:02:05. > :02:09.Donations will go to the local foodbank. People on a low income
:02:09. > :02:12.are don't have an income could do with help. It is a good idea.
:02:12. > :02:18.it surprise you that there are people who literally cannot afford
:02:18. > :02:24.to eat in this country? No, No, my husband works and we find it
:02:24. > :02:29.difficult to eat. It must be really hard for people who do not have
:02:29. > :02:34.anything. It makes you feel you have done something worthwhile.
:02:34. > :02:39.There are people who are more down then you. There are people who are
:02:39. > :02:44.redundant and have families and they have got nothing.
:02:44. > :02:49.donations end appear at the foodbank in Truro. So far this year
:02:49. > :02:56.it has helped people with problems such as low income, its debt, in a
:02:56. > :03:01.plot -- unemployment or benefit cuts are delays. It is hard, it is
:03:01. > :03:10.demoralising. I am struggling. If it were not for this service, I
:03:10. > :03:19.wouldn't know what to do, to be honest. It's a godsend. For some
:03:20. > :03:29.three banks, demand is outstripping supply. -- a food banks.
:03:30. > :03:32.
:03:32. > :03:39.We are in a difficult time. Again, it says on the Cornwall Council
:03:39. > :03:45.website, you would imagine all is well, but rural areas there you
:03:45. > :03:51.have poverty and deprivation have sharply felt needs. The foodbank
:03:51. > :03:55.offers support for many, but they are a short-term solution.
:03:55. > :04:01.Underlying problems of poverty and debt remain.
:04:01. > :04:06.Earlier, I spoke to Eunice Halliday from Plymouth food bank. I asked
:04:07. > :04:11.her about some of the people who used the food bank service.
:04:11. > :04:17.There is no typical person. We have had people who have run their own
:04:17. > :04:21.businesses and come to difficulty. A third of the people are feeding
:04:21. > :04:24.children, a lot of families. We have had families where both
:04:24. > :04:29.parents were working and illness or redundancy has struck and I have
:04:29. > :04:32.had to come in for food. We have a lot of young people who are unable
:04:32. > :04:39.to find work or training that is appropriate for them and are living
:04:39. > :04:44.away from home. They may have left care and not have a good situation.
:04:44. > :04:48.Across the range, really. A lot of people start work and do not get
:04:48. > :04:53.paid for four weeks. If you have been on benefits, you do not have
:04:53. > :05:01.the reserves to keep you going. do you know people have a genuine
:05:01. > :05:10.need? Is there an assessment or can anyone turn up? People get referred
:05:10. > :05:16.to us. We have got 88 agencies around Plymouth, people like Ms
:05:16. > :05:23.Citizens Advice Bureau, agencies for people with an dictions --
:05:23. > :05:29.addictions, Social Services,, people like that. They could be
:05:29. > :05:36.helping someone with other issues and they can give them a voucher.
:05:36. > :05:43.Quite a few of them referring the say that dealing with the food
:05:43. > :05:46.aspect helps people. It is not just about eating, but it is about
:05:46. > :05:51.getting sustenance and concentrating on other things.
:05:51. > :05:56.find that people come out happier than when they came in. It is not
:05:56. > :06:00.just the food, it is back but we can listen to them and we can refer
:06:00. > :06:04.them to other agencies. We have a lot of things on site. We have a
:06:04. > :06:07.work club and literacy groups as well.
:06:07. > :06:10.Cornwall Council has released new figures about the number of people
:06:10. > :06:14.sleeping rough in the county. During May and June this year, 88
:06:14. > :06:18.people said they slept out for more than a week, up from 76 in the last
:06:18. > :06:23.survey in October. The council says it is taking the issue seriously
:06:23. > :06:26.and will target those most at risk. 16 people were rescued off the
:06:26. > :06:31.Dorset coast after a sail training vessel got into difficulty in gale-
:06:31. > :06:36.force winds. The South Devon-based Brixham trawler was dismasted in
:06:36. > :06:40.rough seas near Portland Bill yesterday. No one on board was
:06:40. > :06:43.injured. The vessel was towed to Weymouth by the RNLI's seven class
:06:43. > :06:47.lifeboat, Beth Sell. Some homes have been without phones
:06:47. > :06:50.and electricity today after strong winds brought down trees and cables.
:06:50. > :06:53.There was also minor flooding. In Cornwall, the weather forced the
:06:53. > :06:58.cancellation of all sailings on the Scillonian Ferry and all flights to
:06:58. > :07:02.the Isles of Scilly. Bus companies in Cornwall say
:07:02. > :07:06.dozens of routes could be axed as a result of proposed cuts to the
:07:06. > :07:09.amount it pays to cover free travel for bus pass holders. The bus
:07:09. > :07:13.operators claim their views have not been taken into account in
:07:13. > :07:23.proposals which are due to be put before Cornwall councillors. The
:07:23. > :07:24.
:07:24. > :07:29.council says it needs to save money in all areas of its budget.
:07:29. > :07:36.Free bus travel for the over- sixties and other groups, such as
:07:36. > :07:40.disabled poppet -- passengers, is popular. One bus passenger says can
:07:40. > :07:44.says the very first count for 50% of business. Cornwall council is
:07:44. > :07:50.cutting the amount it pays operators from 70% of the average
:07:50. > :07:54.adult fare to 50%. Bus operators say it will make many writs on
:07:54. > :08:00.profitable and they will close. People will not be able to get to
:08:00. > :08:06.work. There will be disenfranchised. We will not be able to go between
:08:06. > :08:10.towns. Add it week's notice, they would lose their ability to get to
:08:10. > :08:14.work. People would be trapped in their houses and unable to get out
:08:14. > :08:17.because they have no means of transport. It would head the
:08:17. > :08:23.economy of Cornwall. It would hit the tourist industry hard because
:08:23. > :08:30.people would not be able to get about. People might say this is
:08:30. > :08:37.scaremongering -- scaremongering. We have no wish to give idle
:08:37. > :08:41.threats. It is economics. If you take 30% of revenue away, bus
:08:41. > :08:46.services will suffer. Spotlight has spoken to several other bus
:08:46. > :08:50.operators in Cornwall who agree with the gloomy assessment. In a
:08:50. > :08:56.statement, Cornwall Council points out that it has slightly increased
:08:56. > :09:01.the level of reimbursement at 50% of the average adult single fare.
:09:01. > :09:07.It says it wants to carry out a review of the bus network in
:09:07. > :09:12.Cornwall and it would like bus companies to re-tender for services
:09:12. > :09:16.supported by Cornwall Council. It will be discussed at County Hall
:09:16. > :09:19.tomorrow. You're watching Spotlight from the
:09:19. > :09:22.BBC here in the South West. Lots still to come tonight including
:09:22. > :09:29.beach polo... We'll be on the sands at watergate Bay as top
:09:29. > :09:36.international players battle it out. New name new life - a happy ending
:09:37. > :09:41.to this homeless dog's tale. Bell-ringers at Exeter Cathedral
:09:41. > :09:43.are preparing for their most unusual recital yet. It's for an
:09:43. > :09:48.event this Sunday, when John Lennon's Classic, Imagine, will be
:09:48. > :09:58.played in memory of those who died a decade ago on 11th September.
:09:58. > :10:05.
:10:05. > :10:10.Leigh Rundle has been to rehearsals. These are the cathedral bell
:10:10. > :10:14.ringers, Wainwright they have never run before. The idea, to use a John
:10:14. > :10:22.Lennon's legendary song, to commemorate 9/11, was the
:10:22. > :10:29.brainchild of a conceptual artist. If religions take more
:10:29. > :10:37.responsibility for religious tolerance, and try to communicate
:10:37. > :10:42.the song's message. For the wringers, playing modern melodies
:10:42. > :10:49.has been challenging. It is not something we normally consider
:10:49. > :10:57.because the way the bells are rung normally it would be impossible. We
:10:58. > :11:05.have arranged the ropes so they are to -- connected to be clappers. You
:11:06. > :11:09.do have to ring very slowly. recital, funded by the Arts Council,
:11:09. > :11:19.will have a silent piece walk before it, starting at Exeter
:11:19. > :11:23.mosque. People will be gripped by this project. Especially people who
:11:23. > :11:30.have come a long, or people wandering by, and realising it is
:11:30. > :11:38.not an average peal of bells. think it is a great idea. There
:11:38. > :11:41.should be something like this to remember 9/11. I do not think it is
:11:41. > :11:46.appropriate for a church because it seems to be anti Christian. Other
:11:46. > :11:52.people might think differently. That is my feeling. The event
:11:52. > :11:59.cannot feel the to provoke different reactions. The organisers
:11:59. > :12:04.are hoping it will bring together people of all faiths and ages in
:12:04. > :12:07.peace and remembrance. A care provider in South Devon says
:12:07. > :12:10.the need for day provision is becoming ever more essential, as
:12:10. > :12:14.cuts to public services deepen. The South Devon Rural Housing
:12:14. > :12:24.Association says it believes more of us will have to get used to the
:12:24. > :12:30.
:12:30. > :12:34.idea of paying for our own care in the future.
:12:34. > :12:39.Far from City in a chair, these pensioner's are reaping the
:12:39. > :12:42.benefits of having regular T'ai Chi lessons. They said their fitness
:12:42. > :12:51.and well-being has vastly improved to the extent that some of them
:12:51. > :12:57.even practise at home. I used to fall out of bed anyway. I used to
:12:58. > :13:04.do it in bed. Then I fell out and broke my collarbone. Because you
:13:04. > :13:10.are practising in bed? I am sure that was not meant to happen! The
:13:10. > :13:13.centre opened in April and offers a range of activities. South Devon
:13:13. > :13:18.Rural Housing Association runs 40 sessions a week with an average of
:13:18. > :13:24.30 different customers. It is the only dedicated day-care service in
:13:24. > :13:30.Totnes. The closest is in Kingsbridge. It is �28 a day for
:13:30. > :13:36.those not funded by Social Services. The Association Inc -- insists it
:13:36. > :13:41.is value-for-money. If you consider they had individual services in
:13:41. > :13:47.their own home, you would be looking at �15 per are. You would
:13:47. > :13:52.not get the advance of the social activity and interaction, and the
:13:52. > :13:59.activities we have provided. -- get the extras. We will have to get
:13:59. > :14:05.used to paying for things that were traditionally delivered for free.
:14:05. > :14:15.third of the users fund themselves. Some provide food and transport
:14:15. > :14:24.funding. It seems to keep me fitter and keeps my mind active and
:14:24. > :14:31.generally helps. It has brought me out to meet a different people.
:14:31. > :14:40.am more motivated and looking up to things. The association says it is
:14:40. > :14:44.taking its dare court -- day-care role -- a decade -- data model to
:14:44. > :14:48.rural Devon. 12 years ago, a devastating fire
:14:48. > :14:51.took hold in the centre of Exeter at a disused water mill close to
:14:51. > :14:54.the historic quay. What seemed like a disaster at the time has been
:14:54. > :15:04.turned into an opportunity, and the area has been reborn as a green
:15:04. > :15:12.lung for the city. Back in 1999, the remains of this
:15:12. > :15:17.male in Exeter seemed an unlikely location for a wildlife haven.
:15:17. > :15:21.Thanks to the hard work of the Devon Wildlife Trust, this area is
:15:21. > :15:26.now a burgeoning with life and it is one of the wildest places in
:15:27. > :15:31.Exeter. We came here in 2007 and really try to encourage wildlife
:15:31. > :15:36.back into what is a brownfield site in the middle of the city. And it
:15:36. > :15:44.has worked. Otters have returned and there is a diversity of species,
:15:44. > :15:48.which you might not expect in the city. We did a survey recently and
:15:49. > :15:54.recorded 150. Compared with arable farmland, it is much better. There
:15:54. > :16:01.are other things I want to show you. This is not just any old roof, it
:16:01. > :16:06.is a green roof. The plants here are from the same family, and they
:16:06. > :16:12.need to be robust. They are providing a great service to
:16:12. > :16:17.wildlife and human beings. You can see pollinating insects visiting
:16:17. > :16:25.them. And there are no drainpipes Borders worth. It soaks up the
:16:25. > :16:33.water. We do not get pollution. Our hope is that there will be more
:16:33. > :16:38.broods like this one. The project links abbeys had with other
:16:38. > :16:48.wildlife rich areas. The'greening of this urban space is more
:16:48. > :16:49.
:16:49. > :16:54.successful than they would have hoped. -- re-greening. The hope is
:16:54. > :16:58.it will increase. The speed and excitement of Polo on
:16:58. > :17:00.the beach has returned to Watergate Bay in Cornwall, for the fifth year.
:17:00. > :17:08.Some top international players are taking part and Eleanor Parkinson
:17:08. > :17:13.has been soaking up the atmosphere. Watergate Bay is best known for its
:17:13. > :17:18.surface but today the sport is on horseback. The beach is hosting its
:17:18. > :17:25.annual polo on the beach competition. I have with meet Andy
:17:25. > :17:30.Burgess. I organise the power with the help of the hotel. It is quite
:17:30. > :17:36.a challenge but good fun. What is polo on the beach and how does that
:17:36. > :17:46.different from polo on an arena? Grass polo is for a side on a big
:17:46. > :17:47.
:17:47. > :17:53.field. We'd play arenas stern polo on an area 100 yards by 50. --
:17:53. > :17:56.every net style. A lot of that these horses played last year, so
:17:57. > :18:01.they are acclimatised. Some of their new ones are not used to it
:18:01. > :18:08.but we will see how they get on. They should be all right. You have
:18:08. > :18:17.got some British squad members this year. Yes, two of our highest
:18:17. > :18:20.handicapped English players. Also, professional players from Surrey.
:18:20. > :18:30.Also, eight polo club owner and myself, and I run at the Polo
:18:30. > :18:40.School. It is difficult with the wind. His polo just for rich
:18:40. > :18:41.
:18:41. > :18:48.people? I have seen a lot of champagne. He does not have to be.
:18:48. > :18:55.Nowadays, you can just have lessons, very simple. I will not keep you
:18:55. > :18:59.very long. I am just about to jump Scores of rail enthusiasts were in
:18:59. > :19:03.the region today to catch a glimpse of something of a rarity - a steam
:19:03. > :19:13.locomotive on a special run through Devon and Cornwall. Scott Bingham
:19:13. > :19:13.
:19:13. > :19:21.went along to see the Atlantic Coast Express.
:19:21. > :19:31.Emerging from the nest, -- the list, this train is bound for Plymouth.
:19:31. > :19:32.
:19:32. > :19:36.The Atlantic Coast Express is on time at 11:11pm. -- 11:11am.
:19:36. > :19:42.brings back a lot of memories come at just the excitement of the steam,
:19:42. > :19:48.the old locomotives. You can match it. It is a beautiful part of the
:19:48. > :19:53.country. I have never been west of Plymouth previously. It has been a
:19:53. > :20:00.first for me. Very nice indeed. far as we can see it is the first
:20:00. > :20:07.time a mainline in June has gone to Newquay since the 60s. -- engine.
:20:07. > :20:12.It is very exciting for everybody. It is a different matter on the
:20:12. > :20:21.footplate of the 70,000 Britannia. It has consumed around 3,000
:20:21. > :20:29.gallons of water and 200 tons of coal since Newquay. It is hard work.
:20:29. > :20:35.You are creating the steam. When it goes right it is very satisfying.
:20:35. > :20:41.This grand old lady is 60 this year. She will return to the main line in
:20:41. > :20:51.2010 after a four-year absence and a major overhaul. These were
:20:51. > :20:51.
:20:51. > :21:01.typical engines that did run in the last years of steam into Plymouth.
:21:01. > :21:08.
:21:08. > :21:15.ADRIAN KOREN. -- A whistle. That is what I like, the whistle. Hopefully
:21:15. > :21:18.there will be more trips in the near future.
:21:18. > :21:22.Some stories really do have a happy ending. You remember back in June,
:21:22. > :21:29.we feature Derek the dog, who's spent more than half his life in
:21:29. > :21:32.care. The RSPCA in Somerset just couldn't seem to find him a home.
:21:32. > :21:35.They tried three times, but every time, he kept coming back. Then, a
:21:35. > :21:45.Spotlight viewer saw his feature on the programme and the rest is
:21:45. > :21:49.
:21:49. > :21:56.history. Do you remember Derek, the dog then
:21:56. > :22:06.no one wanted? He has a new name and a new home and seems like a new
:22:06. > :22:15.dog. What can you say? He is almost the love of my life, apart from my
:22:15. > :22:22.wife, obviously. He is brilliant. He needs a lot of exercise. He is
:22:22. > :22:29.energetic. My parents saw him on the news and the same day, he was
:22:29. > :22:37.in a newspaper. They read the story and said, that dog is for a target.
:22:37. > :22:42.-- taka. Old glimpses of the naughty Derek sometimes appear.
:22:42. > :22:51.soon as you give him a bath, he will run out into the fields and
:22:52. > :23:01.find the biggest car pack he can and roll in it. The dog gets taken
:23:01. > :23:08.for a 10 mile run every day. He is named Boogie after a book, about a
:23:08. > :23:12.guy who takes his friend's dark on a 500 mile walk, and the dog is a
:23:12. > :23:18.nightmare and a disaster. He next people's sandwiches and things like
:23:18. > :23:28.that. I was blood enough to suggest he is not perhaps the best looking
:23:28. > :23:30.
:23:30. > :23:34.dog in the world. I am the first to admit he isn't a licker -- licker.
:23:34. > :23:43.He is a long way off what I would have chosen, but we love him.
:23:43. > :23:53.grow to love him in time. I would not swap him for the world. He is,
:23:53. > :23:57.without doubt, the best joke we have ever had. -- the best dog we
:23:57. > :24:07.have ever had. Sometimes dreams come true.
:24:07. > :24:14.
:24:14. > :24:18.Isn't that a nice story! Good old The weather has been quite
:24:18. > :24:28.inclement today. Not only have we had heavy rain but quite strong
:24:28. > :24:30.
:24:30. > :24:36.gusts of wind. This was the strength of the wind this morning.
:24:36. > :24:41.The rest of the week is unsettled and continuing windy as well. Low-
:24:41. > :24:45.pressure moving away from us. Not some isobars and lots of cloud.
:24:45. > :24:51.This has kept as a very wet and he's still raining across the
:24:51. > :24:57.Channel Islands. Clear skies heading our way tonight as the
:24:57. > :25:00.weather front moves to the east. We are between weather systems.
:25:00. > :25:05.Hopefully, bright and dry tomorrow, although more cloud is spilling
:25:05. > :25:15.ahead of the weather systems to give further wet weather on
:25:15. > :25:25.Thursday. It will be very unsettled for at the next few days. The rain
:25:25. > :25:25.
:25:25. > :25:31.was very intense earlier. This was earlier today at Buckland Abbey.
:25:31. > :25:36.Our cameraman got a thorough soaking. The rain is still picking
:25:36. > :25:42.out some colour. The gardens, as well as the flowers, looking pretty
:25:42. > :25:49.splendid, despite the wide whether -- wet weather. Autumn has come
:25:49. > :25:53.early, with plenty of fruits ready for picking. The strength of the
:25:53. > :26:00.wind a bit of a concern for later in at the week. I think the wind
:26:01. > :26:09.will drop overnight. A quiet night for many of us. Some showers. It
:26:09. > :26:13.around. Most of those will fade away by the morning. Tomorrow,
:26:13. > :26:19.morning sunshine. Quickly, the cloud will appear and start to
:26:19. > :26:24.generate Chas. By the end of the afternoon, it is rather cloudy. At
:26:24. > :26:31.least it will be dry with westerly winds. Temperatures of 17, possibly
:26:31. > :26:41.18 degrees. For the Isles of Scilly, expect a mainly dry day with sunny
:26:41. > :27:09.
:27:09. > :27:13.There is a brisk westerly breeze. Thursday, we return to wet and wind
:27:13. > :27:21.with a brisk west or south-west wind. Showers on and off throughout
:27:21. > :27:24.the day. Low cloud beginning to appear. A wet start to Saturday but