23/12/2013 Spotlight

No white Christmas yet but the weather is making its presence felt

from destruction to disruption and there are still hours to go.

Good evening. The wind and the rain began to hit Cornwall this morning.

The difficult conditions ` set to continue until midnight. As rivers

burst their banks, the clock ticks for travellers trying to get away. I

am going up to the Midlands to see family.

A care home in Cornwall closers. The owners of the Holywell Bay Nursing

home have gone into voluntary liquidation.

And a prominent figure in the South West's Chinese community is fined

for employing illegal waiters. High winds and torrential rain have

battered the South West causing widespread disruption and

forecasters say there are still some hours before calmer conditions

arrive. A severe flood warning remains in place in Weymouth

tonight. Meanwhile many people trying to get away for Christmas say

it's been a day of frustration and confusion. A vast number of train

services have been affected and there have been problems on the

roads. Thousands of homes have been without power. Spotlight's Andrea

Ormsby is at Plymouth railway station for us tonight. Andrea. It

is still raining and windy out here. It is, now but earlier it was chaos

here. Every train in and out via has been laid the services tonight will

be let also. The weather has taken its toll on the south`west today.

Bearing the brunt of the storm. The south`west has been hit hardest

today by high winds and heavy rain. The weather has caused havoc for the

transport network forcing ferry crossings between Plymouth to be

cancelled. The problems have been on the railways. The tree blocked the

line between Taunton and Tiverton. Flooding and single `` signal

problems have affected branch line services. A 50 mph speed limit means

delays across`the`board. Going up to the Midlands to see family.

Hopefully the train will get their OK. Will keep up with travel

updates. And hoping I will get home without the trains stopping. We have

decided to get the earliest train we can. The wind is much stronger. It

is better than snow. Here is an idea of how strong the wind has been.

This is the roof of a garage at the back of this pub. It happened at

8:30am when the roof blew off. It went into the middle of the road.

The owner was shocked to start with. We had to block everything up. It is

closed today. Market Street will be closed until safety issues are

resolved. On the roads, drivers are being warned to take extra care with

a lot of surface water making conditions has stores in places.

There are flood warnings across the region and one severe flood warning

in Weymouth. More than 3000 are without electricity in Cornwall and

Devon. Western Power says the cuts have been caused by 94 separate

incidents or relating to the weather. I have been out in this

weather all day today and have driven the length of Devon. In

heavily, the wind was so strong I could not stand up. On the roads,

there is plenty of surface water. Don't go out unless you have to and

if you go out, go with extra care. You can check your BBC website where

you live and your local radio station. BBC Radio Devon and

Cornwall have got special programmes to keep you across all the latest

travel information. A care home in Cornwall is to close,

and families of the 30 residents there say they have just a few days

to find them somewhere new to live. Newport Care Limited, which owns the

Holywell Bay Nursing Home near Newquay, is going into voluntary

liquidation. NHS Kernow and Cornwall Council say they are working with

the families to find alternative homes.

Many of the residents of the Holywell Bay Nursing Home suffer

from dementia and have complex needs. Their families were told just

last Friday that the home would be closing and they would need to find

new accommodation for their loved ones. Families believe they have one

week to make the move. It is beyond cruel. I don't know how it came to

be so close to Christmas. There must have been signs and somebody must

have known the situation and yet it was only on Friday that we knew

about it. Then it was 11 days notice. There are two weekends and

Christmas week, of course. This lady is concerned about her 89`year`old

father who has vascular dementia. Today they were at the area for a

meeting with authorities. I was reassured and the plans that they

have been able to implement and the measures they are putting in place

are satisfactory. They are clearing up a huge mess that Newport have put

them in. Newport Care Limited will not allow filming. They referred all

questions to the insolvency firm handling the liquidation. In a

statement it said: Relatives say they have been told

the home will shut next week. There is also concern for the future of

the 40 staff and carers who relatives have praised for their

dedication. A leading figure in the south west's

Chinese community has been ordered by a judge to pay ?50,000 for

employing illegal waiters. Martin Li who's a former Chairman of the Devon

and Cornwall Chinese Association has run a number of restaurants in East

Devon. He was charged after raids by UK Border Agency Staff. Hamish

Marshall reports. Martin Li left court after being fined ?50,000

after employing what his barrister said were two illegal workers who

flip `` slipped through the net. He is one of the most high`profile

businessman in the region and owns this restaurant and others in Exeter

and Exmouth. The court was told of raids on his restaurants. In 2006

and 2007. There, they found two members of staff who were not

permitted to work in the UK. When he was interviewed, he refused to

comment and at his trial, he pleaded not guilty. Martin Li has often

acted as a spokesman for the Chinese community as multicultural events.

After a previous raid, he told us that his community was being

unfairly targeted by the UK border agency. We feel very strongly about

the raid in the Chinese restaurant and takeaway which was very

heavy`handed. He asked to pay ?20,000 for the benefits he begged

`` gained from employing illegal staff and he was fined ?10,000 each

worker. The judge told him, for years you have been a reputable

businessman doing business to a high standard. I accept these cases slip

through the net but they are very serious slips and that the fines

have to be substantial. The UK border agency and a special unit of

Devon and Cornwall police incorporated on the case. The

outcome shows that it is the responsibility of the employer to

check an individual 's entitlement to taking employment in the UK.

Those checks are clearly laid down on the Home Office website for

employers with certain documentation that they must check and accord to

prove they are entitled to work. He has three months to pay his fines.

An investigation into an incident at a special school in Devon in which

police officers used a taser on three teenage boys with complex

learning difficulties, is to be supervised by the Independent Police

Complaints Commission. Officers were called to Chelfham Senior School,

near Plymouth, on December first following reports of an alleged

assault on a teacher. The boys, all aged 14 or 15, were later charged

with affray. Fares on most train services in the

south west are to go up by just over 3%. First Great Western says all its

fares will rise on Janaury first. Earlier this month the Chancellor

took the industry by surprise, capping the average increase to the

rate of inflation. There are calls for tougher fines

for anyone whose pet attacks a guide dog after a recent incident in the

Mid Devon village of Uffculme. While there are laws requiring owners to

keep their dogs under control, its claimed they don't go far enough.

Tilly is still shaken up to revisit the spot where she and her guide dog

were ambushed. They were walking in Uffculme when a dog leapt out of an

open window and attacked her German Shepherd. It was horrendous because

you know your dog is being hurt and you can't do a thing about it. After

the police, we went to the vet and she was peppered all over with bytes

and she had a bite on her chest. Quinn was so traumatised by the

attack she has had to be retired from service. In the short`term, her

husband, Tony, has assumed the role. You have to be able look ahead for

curbs and broken pavements and branches overhead kneeling down,

anything that `` anything like that that might impede a blind person.

Trouble is my mind wanders off to other things. I am not as good as a

guide dog. Nationally, ten guide dogs and reportedly attacked leading

to calls for a change in the law. Tilly now has the support her local

MP, seen here on the left, in pushing for tougher financial

penalties for anyone whose pet attacks a guide dog. Dogs that are

not under control and have a tendency to be aggressive, if they

do attack, then I think there should be certain measures to stop it

happening again. Quinn has been re`homed with family friends but

every time a guide dog is retired as a result of an attack, it costs the

charity ?50,000 to replace. If you've just joined us ` welcome

to Spotlight from the BBC. Still to come on our last full programme

before Christmas. We've reported on them all year but

a foodbank brings a special Christmas gift. God bless these

guys. The kids love it as more because they have their little hats

on. And from the new to the old ` a

fresh sound to Christmas before we hear our final carol.

Onto the sport and Dave's here with the final round`up before Christmas.

First, football how did Yeovil get on Dave ` good news? I'm afraid not.

Yeovil Town failed to stretch their unbeaten run in the Championship

following a one goal loss to Blackburn Rovers at Huish Park.

Jordan Rhodes struck in the second half to keep the Glovers next`to`the

bottom of the standings. Again, they can count themselves unlucky after

they twice hit the framework, leaving their manager a little

frustrated. We are not too disappointed. We are

not devastated. We are disappointed to have lost a point. They are still

learning and we will keep going. In League Two, Aaron Downes gave

Torquay United tail`to`tail victories to take them out of the

relegation spots. This one at Dagenham and Redbridge with the

centre`back scoring just after half`time. The Gulls now look for a

hat`trick in Boxing Day's home duel with Bristol Rovers. There was a

pick`me`up for Plymouth Argyle at Home Park against Bury. Keelan

Lavery and Reuben Reid gave the Pilgrims a 2`1 winning result, the

perfect tonic ahead of Boxing Day's test at second`placed Oxford.

Exeter City's home form let them down again as leaders Chesterfield

beat them two`nil on Friday night to leave them five points adrift of the

play`off pack. There are moments when they out

powered us. It doesn't happen too often but we have to make it doesn't

happen going forward as often as it has done in the last week or two.

Exeter Chiefs have gone up to fifth in rugby's Premiership with a

hard`fought 16`3 win over Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park. After three

Gareth Steenson penalties put the Chiefs 9`0 ahead, the only try came

from scrum half Haydn Thomas. He danced his way over to end Exeter's

run of five defeats in a row in league and cup and set them up for

Harlequins at Twickenham next Saturday.

Penzance and Newlyn's Olympic and World Championship rower Helen

Glover could be reunited with her Olympic pairs partner Heather

Stanning from Yeovil. They won Britain's first gold medal at the

2012 London Games. Since then, Heather returned to her Army post

and Polly Swann stepped into her shoes to achieve more success with

Helen. But Glover found herself taking on more responsibility and

now Stanning is back training full`time. Whether I wrote with

Helen again or not, we will wait and see. `` whether I ride. She is a

fantastic athlete and she definitely brings the best out of me. I am

looking forward to training with her again. All it remains for me to say

is have a lovely Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Good luck to all our teams over the festive period. Now a family from

Cornwall whose triplets were born thirteen weeks prematurely have

recently celebrated their fifth birthdays. Parents Sam and Andrew

Paciuszko from Truro were warned their children only had a thirty per

cent chance of survival. Well they defied the odds and the

triplets are proving to be quite a handful for mum and dad. John Danks

reports. At birth, they were tiny and fighting for life. Now, five

years on, they are big and absolutely full of it. Harry, Martha

and EV weighed around ?2 when they were born. Due to a lack of beds,

they spent weeks apart receiving specialist treatment at three

different hospitals. They had a whole host of medical problems.

Thanks to the medical staff, they are all here to tell the tale all

fit and fighting well, other than coughs and colds. We filmed them

after they were allowed home. I remember the first night with them

being here. Two of them were still on oxygen so we were paranoid of

what to do. We were doing things on our own for the first time. It was a

bit scary. We revisited them again on their first birthday. Mum and dad

now fully in the swing of childcare. It is a constant round of feeding,

sterilising, changing. It is endless. They wouldn't have it any

other way and now with the children attending schools, the normality of

family life is something they cherish. Part of it seems a distant

memory. Five years has flown past. I am so grateful for the help that we

had. We are really lucky. It is hard work but, yes, we came out the lucky

side of it. Now their birthdays or out of the way, they are turning

their attention to that other special day in the calendar.

More than 200 families in Cornwall who are struggling to buy food this

Christmas will get a free Christmas meal this year, thanks to a local

charity. The food bank in Camborne is delivering a turkey, mince pies

and Christmas pudding to people who can't afford food or presents.

Eleanor Parkinson reports. Volunteers have been busy for

several weeks putting together the perfect Christmas meal. This year

they are helping more than 200 farmers who they say of facing a

bleak Christmas. We have put the level at 200 and we have 227 but we

could have done 500. It is a big problem but as you can see, we can't

do any more. Each box will include the things that we all enjoyed.

Actions `` a Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and chocolate is.

Donations were still rolling in. 200 Christmas puddings from a local

company. Meals were complete with a Christmas turkey. We plan what we

are going to eat and the nice things that we are going to do and for some

families, that not possible. People ought to be able to worry a little

less and enjoy themselves a little bit more. Chris and his family will

be getting a meal. He is unemployed and a single parent. God bless these

guys. They wear Christmas hats and it is bringing a smile to my

children's faces. 60,000 people in the country will be relying on food

banks over the festive period. This food bank will be doing all it can

to make sure no one in their area goes hungry this Christmas.

For every top ten Christmas songs, there is a poll of the worse. If

you're not a fan of the Christmas tape in shopping centres, maybe we

can bring you some chair. Well children at Broadclyst Primary

School near Exeter have been in good voice singing a new Christmas song

which has been written by a local composer. Johnny Rutherford has been

along to hear the latest festive tune.

# Gather round, tonight is the night. New music for new voices. The

song has been written by local composers from Exeter. I was

thinking about my grandchildren and wanted to write a song for them at

Christmas. I got together with Hannah and we wrote this little

tune. The children loved it, they sang it at their school and the

schools have now taken it on. What is refreshing is they have

thought about the lyrics. It is really exciting and we are thinking

about what is happening but we are also thinking about people that

don't get what we get on Christmas Day. It is part of joining hands to

sing for love and peace. We should enjoy the time that we get to spend

with our family. That so many other Christmas songs that are cheesy and

all of the carols that come out so it has been a gift to put this into

the carol concert programmes. You might hear more of this song in a

future as touted as an American publishing house has signed it up.

Good evening. We have seen the wet and windy weather across the region

today. There is still some heavy rain to come for a time tonight but

it should ease off for tomorrow morning. Let us have a look at the

radar. You can see the rain across the region. It has eased for parts

of the region. We will see some more wet weather over the next few hours.

There is still a potential for strong gusts of wind as you go

through tonight. We have weather warnings for the wind. There will be

a lot of water still on the road tonight if you're concerned about

flooding. Keep an eye on the Environment Agency website. They

have a flood warning map. He is the deep area of low pressure that has

brought us this wet and windy weather. Some active weather fronts

in there and we will see another weather front pushing that rain in

for a time this evening. It is clear to the east by tomorrow lunchtime.

The wind will not be as strong. There is some showers for tomorrow

but there would be some bright weather in between. For Christmas

Day, the wind is much lighter. Some cooler weather for the middle part

of the week or so. Tonight, still some heavy bursts of rain to come

for a time. There is still some showers into the early evening.

There is some stronger wind but overall the breeze should ease

tomorrow morning. We have clearer skies and temperatures will drop to

five Celsius for inland. Tomorrow morning, we will have some dry and

bright weather. The winds are blustery with the showers. There is

the risk of some hail and some of the showers will turn to sleet over

the higher ground of the region. Overall, the wind not as strong as

today and a cooler field to tomorrow. Temperatures around seven

Celsius. For the Isles of Scilly, Strom `` some strong winds here with

some blustery showers. Some bright spells in between.

Out at sea, we have some squally showers and these winds are coming

from the south`west. Unsettled weather is staying with us. For

Christmas Day, we have some cooler temperatures and some sleet showers

across the moors. Boxing Day, again a mixture of sunshine and showers.

Friday, we are looking at some wet and windy weather.

Well that's it from us on the last full length Spotlight programme of

2013, but before we go tonight we have another of the carols sung by

choirs from our four counties. We leave you this evening with the

University of Exeter Chapel Choir singing one of the traditional

favourites, O Little Town of Bethlehem. Goodnight.