20/12/2016 Spotlight

BBC website. That's all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

On BBC One we You are losing jobs. It's affecting

your family. Just think, is it really worth losing all of that for

something like alcohol or drugs? We'll meet two women celebrating

the festive season sober as the government warns excessive

drinking is costing Also tonight: Speeding up

journeys and the economy. I've seen my mornings and my evening

drive is reduced by 30 minutes so it really makes a difference to me.

One year on we'll assess whether the South Devon Highway

Welcome to the spotlight express at Lappa Valley Steam Railway.

Tonight our destination delivers a heartfelt Christmas story.

And celebrating some of the most inspiring people who've appeared

One in three people in the South West drink

more than the amount the Government recommends.

Most of them have no idea they're drinking too much

Recent research by Public Health Action says just over a million

40-70 year olds are drinking more than they should.

But eight out of ten of these "at risk" drinkers see themselves

And seven out of ten are not concerned about how much they drink.

Campaigners want people to be more aware of the amount they're

drinking, and they say the national cost to the NHS and the economy

A spot of Christmas shopping and for Julie and Gabby something to

celebrate, their first sober festive season for several years.

I'm looking forward to Christmas Day.

Roast turkey and just a little stocking, you know what I mean?

Waking up Christmas morning without a hangover.

Drinking two bottles of vodka a day at her

lowest, Julie's children were taking into care.

Drink-free now for six months she wants others to seek

It costs you your self-respect and your morals and your

values, which actually is what we lose.

If it is starting to cost you those things, look at it

Now 22, Gabby's drinking spiralled out of

control at 16, starting with binges and leading to her losing her job

She is in recovery thanks to a treatment charity.

If it gets to a point where you are losing

jobs, it's affecting your family, to just think, is it really worth

losing all of that for something like alcohol or drugs?

It's the season to be merry, but according to

figures from Public Health Action too many of us

are drinking more than we should all year round.

Across the South West region one in three drink above the

Here in Cornwall, one in ten are deemed to

be at high risk, that's drinking double the recommended guidelines.

Those figures are likely to be higher in

future as the government's recommended limits

For both men and women the number of units is now 14 or the equivalent

of six pints of lager or six medium glasses of wine.

Any weekend you go to any town in Cornwall and you're

there late at night, you would definitely say that binge

drinking needs addressing and that's why we have volunteers out trying

But more than that, it's the fact that it's so easy

You click online and it gets delivered to your door and most

people now are drinking more at home than they are out in pubs or clubs.

That is where we get real health problems.

Next tonight: It cost over ?100 million, and was 50

years in the planning, but the long-awaited South Devon

For years it was hyped as the solution to Torbay's economic

ills, so has it delivered on its promise?

Sophie Pierce went on a road trip to find out.

Rebecca Bashford commutes every day from Torbay to Exeter

but her journey's been cut by half an hour.

I've seen my morning and my evening drives reduced.

It's by about 30 minutes so it really makes a difference to me.

It's a far cry from before when traffic had to crawl

through Kingskerswell, to get in and out of Torbay.

Tens of thousands of cars would go through here every day.

Those cars have now come onto this road.

Places like Totnes the same, there is less traffic around.

All the cars from the side roads that go on to this road,

In Torquay Keith Richardson is investing over ?3 million

in his two hotels because he thinks Torbay does have a future.

He says bookings are 10% up since the road opened.

Lots have mentioned how wonderful the road is.

It's not only the guests, but my staff, I have got staff that

live in Exeter and commute into Torquay and they say how good it is.

It is hoped the road will regenerate other industries as well

with an ?8 million electronics and innovation centre due to open

in Paignton next year, plus the Hilton hotel chain now

We have an optics firm that are looking to relocate into Torbay

and have major hotel groups, the Hilton group want to develop

Torbay Council is forecasting that eventually the new road will result

Now a round up of some of the other news in the South West tonight:

A man's been committed for trial at Plymouth Crown Court

35-year-old Paul Quantick from Union Street is accused

His body was found in a flat in the city on Saturday.

A second day of strike action has been held by workers at Crown post

They're protesting about branch closures, job security

Experts say thousands of fish washed up on a Cornish beach could be down

Boats sometimes have to release heavy catches to avoid capsizing.

The family of a human cannonball stuntman from Newquay who died

when his safety net collapsed say they'll never recover

Scott May, seen here, has today been given a community order,

and his Daredevil Stunt Show has been fined ?100,000.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company has objected to plans

for a new helicopter service between Penzance and the islands.

The company, which runs the Scillonian passenger

ferry and Skybus flights, said it would undermine

Torquay United have been taken over in a deal which is claimed to have

Swindon-based Gaming International are the new owners of

the National League club, a move that has concerned

A lot has changed in over a century here and this is another such

moment. The group of fans that bought the club last year have sold

the club to a Swindon -based firm called gaming International. It was

the only option. This deal had to be done. All the other people in the

background such as the Chinese and America, we asked them to put some

money in to save the club but it was never forthcoming. They would maybe

do deals down the line but it was not good enough for us, we had to

get the deal done. Nobody from the club's new owners were here to tell

us about their plans are Torbay united but they have said they have

a five-year plan to try and secure the future of the club. Fans are

concerned about the motives of the new owners who pulled out of the

takeover in the summer because they couldn't buy the stadium off Torbay

Council. Bearing in mind that with Gaming International our biggest

concern is that they are a property developer, they have very little

interest in football apparently and they have very little connection

with Torquay has a place, therefore what are their long-term intentions?

The short-term future has been secured but as for the long term,

the fans will just have to wait and see.

Hospitality and restaurant bosses in Devon say they are having

major problems recruiting, with an unprecedented

The sector has been expanding across the region, for example

in Exeter six establishments opened within days of each other.

The trade publication The Caterer currently has adverts for 76 chefs

in Devon and 53 in Cornwall with hundreds of bar and waiting

Chefs have never had a higher profile.

Celebrity ones are regulars on TV but there don't seem to be

If you're in catering and looking for a job in the south-west

and you can't find one then you're not trying hard enough.

In Devon and Cornwall there are jobs all over the shop,

everywhere from Land's End up to Bristol.

The Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association says its members can't

You need youngsters coming into the industry

as well as experienced staff because there a vacancies

across many of the hotels and restaurants that I know right

around Devon, also in Exeter and there's not enough

people to fill those roles and they are good quality jobs.

As well as numerous jobs on the Internet, more signs

like this are appearing across Devon and Cornwall.

Industry leaders tell me another complication is Brexit.

Eastern Europe, which has been a good source of staff

over the last few years, well, many people from there

are having second thoughts about coming to Britain in case

they don't have a long-term future here.

So, can youngsters like Mia be convinced that

She's off to be a tour guide in Italy, but says

the skills she learned as a waitress have helped.

The job is not that bad even though the pay is not the best.

A lot of weekends are taken up, a lot of hours then the pay is not

great so I think that's what puts a lot of people.

Bosses say the region risks missing out on a major opportunity

unless more people come into the sector.

They say wages aren't low for those who want to stay and forge a career.

A modern twist on a Christmas Classic coming up.

We'll meet the local author behind the story.

Plus: As the year draws to a close, a look back at some of the most

inspiring people who've appeared on Spotlight.

And the uplifting story behind these Christmas lights on the next stop

The last of Torbay's Normandy veterans who were still waiting

to receive France's highest honour finally received their medals today.

The French Government decided to award the Legion D'Honneur

to all servicemen who helped Liberate their country

But the application from Torbay was beset with problems and has

However as Our South Devon reporter John Ayres explains,

It's been quite a wait, but finally today the last

of Torbay's Normandy veterans waiting to be honoured recieved

Better to be given it after the war, but anyway, here we are.

Getting medals, you know, at this late day, late hour, you know.

There were far more who deserved to win a medal than me.

I was lucky, I was able to go through without being killed, so,

you know, that was privilige, luck, I don't know

My friend was killed that first night.

The French government wanted to thank all the servicemen

who helped liberate the country from the Nazis

They decided to offer the medal to all living

The problem was the French and our Ministry of Defence had

twice as many applications as they were expecting.

Emails got lost, then they may write back and say we haven't got

the address of the recipient, only his name or we've got his name

It just went on and on and I can only assume that there

Sadly seven of our veterans died before they managed to recieve

It's been a real chase, but I'm grateful to colleagues

in parliament and particularly to the veterans minister who's

helped chase this forward and I'm just pleased that now,

with Christmas coming, they've got the medals

There was also a medal for Rob Barber but he couldn't be here.

Awarding these medals is something the French really wanted to do,

and although these veterans had to wait, they are very

A Devon woman is set for literary fame this Christmas having been

selected from almost 1,000 competition entries in the search

to find a modern equivalent to the timeless festive tale,

The winning children's story is Sol The Slug's Night Before Christmas,

A story about a slug living under a family's floorboards,

who assumes Christmas is not for him, until he comes

face-to-face with Santa, and Lucy joins us in the studio now.

Congratulations. Hello, thank you. A slug is not the first creature you

would think of at Christmas so how did that come about? Perhaps

slightly embarrassingly, we have quite a big slug problem in our

house and for many years we have tried to block holes and stop them

getting through and at one point we just thought we would accept the

slugs and one day I saw they had done a sort of pattern on the rug

and that is sort of where the idea for the story came from really of

looking at them at a different way. You say looking at a different way

because you say slugs are quite surprising and we can learn a lot

from them. Absolutely, you look at them and you thinks I'm young

discussing that actually they can be artists I suppose. Tell us about the

store you focused on because reading the reviews of those who have

already read it, there was a feeling it is the true spirit of Christmas.

Without spoiling the ending for those who haven't entered -- Reddit,

what is the essential story? Essentially it is about a little

slut who comes out at Christmas Eve that he sees all the things around

him and he thinks Christmas is not for him but Father Christmas comes

down and puts him right and since Christmas is for everyone no matter

how slimy you are. It is a message of inclusivity. This competition is

quite major, what you expect it to do for you? Will lead to other

things? Hopefully, yes. It is on Amazon at the moment so hopefully we

are thinking... That is a free download, isn't it? Yes, hopefully a

lot of people will take interest in it and I will go on writing and

hopefully who knows in the future, more books, fingers crossed! Lots of

people try to get stories, particularly children's stories

published. What do you think the secret of successes. What you have

to have? What grain of an idea do you have to have for it to a

success? I think a lot of it is just having a magic formula and the idea

that works as a story but a lot of it is also just perseverance and

keeping going with it. It is a long process. I started writing

creatively when I was 19 and I am now 34 so it has taken that long. It

is just being in it for the long haul and a bit of patience. This

could now be a new Christmas classic! Fingers crossed. Thank you

for coming in. Now, it's day two of our

Spotlight Express journey For, those of you who were

watching last night, you'll remember I was at the home

of the Dartmoor Polar Express as we launched our week long series

of films on Christmas trains. Well, as train rides go,

the Lappa Valley Steam Railway near Newquay isn't the biggest

or the longest. But that didn't stop

the Spotlight Special delivering 40 passengers to a very special

destination at the end of the 1.5 John Henderson was lucky enough

to catch the Santa Express. Welcome to the spotlight express at

Lappa Valley Steam Railway. Never a dull moment! I love Lappa

Valley. I come four times a year. Honor Roll the Spotlight Express

powering down the valley. 40 passengers on board and waiting to

meet the big man. Santa also came by train, driven naturally enough by

one of his reindeer. Absolutely marvellous, I love coming to Lappa

Valley, you know, especially when I fly in over the village of new Lynn

East. The lights down below me are absolutely splendid. Here is the

proof. A present that just keeps giving, and one that means

everything for Jeanette. It is fantastic and it started off at this

pub. Everybody has just built on it and build on it and if you look

behind you that house has just done an amazing job. That inspiration

came ten years ago. The village has never looked back. Jeanette and her

husband John saw the light started fundraising for more this. We put

the lights up I would buy the lights and people of the village host them

and they plugged the moon but three years ago John died and... So... For

the collection for his funeral we raised over ?500 and we bought a

beautiful shooting star in memory of him. It takes pride of place outside

Jeanette 's home and in the last few years people have also made lanterns

and followed as Father Christmas as the lights are turned on, but this

naturally as special symbolism for the woman dubbed the lady of the

lights. It makes me think of him every night when I look up to the

sky, but just at Christmas. Every day is Christmas when you look up to

the stars. At Santa 's grotto the important work is almost died. And

you will make sure to put my doggie on the list does well, remember

that. I will put your doggie on the list, of course I will remember

that. No trouble at all. All aboard the Spotlight Express for the return

journey! Time to take the train home.

What a great journey that was a! Some great Christmas lights as well

and another stop on the Spotlight Express on the programme tomorrow.

From a 100-year-old war hero to youngsters who've

overcome huge challenges, we've met some of the South West's

most inspiring people on Spotlight during 2016.

They've included champions in sport, those who've been determined to beat

the odds and others whose exploits have surprised and delighted us.

So as the year draws to a close here's a look back at some

of the people who've made a lasting impression on us and you.

You could be just another person sat at home and eating what you want and

carrying on as life is going, until it ends. If you would like to step

on the scales, please? Unbelievable. Absolutely incredible. Your weight

is 123 kilos which is 11 and a half stone in weight loss. Brilliant. So,

fantastic. Fantastic. My brothers were terrible, they said

if I didn't come home with two golds than I was getting on the flight

back home but unfortunately I came back with a silver and gold, which

isn't too bad. Me and Lewis are out OK? -- out

front, OK. Good job, Riley! I send e-mails and I don't trust

banking on it. It's not that I'm frightened of, I'm afraid of making

a mistake myself. I didn't expect to be so near the edge of life really.

Congratulations. Thank you very, very much indeed. I believe you me,

I treasure it. It is an honour. That has made us all well up again,

hasn't it? That has to be one of the most incredible moments of the year.

Look, we have found our tree from last year. I thought he had been

banished to the loft, never to be seen again! Delighted to see again

after all this time. David, is there a storm coming in?

There is on Friday but maybe not for us, it is passing through the north

of the country. The next few days are not looking too bad for us, it

is damp with rain in the forecast and more tomorrow and a bit breezy

but especially tomorrow morning. Generally quite mild. I don't think

there was any chance of seeing anything white this Christmas. The

layer of crap that stretches from the rest of Scotland act here to the

middle of the Atlantic joins up with a weather front over Canada at the

moment. That weather system will drag its way over and asked for the

night to come and it is reasonably close in the day tomorrow but it

will go through and Thursday is going to be the brightest day of the

week, largely dry. Perhaps a chance to get outside and make sure the

garden is secure because there is a new area of low pressure that has

been called Barbara by the Irish Met service and the UK Met Office. It

looks like it's track will take us -- take it well away from us, to the

north, but there was a squeeze on the eye to bars and a weather front

that will produce heavy rain for a time on Friday afternoon. This

evening and overnight tonight has rain coming in which is patchy right

now but it will become more widespread and persistent later in

the night. Temperatures will fall to five or 6 degrees for most of us but

I think a lot of the wet weather should be gone by the time we get up

in the morning. The exception is parts of Dorset and the ease of

Somerset where temperatures will start the day at five or six or 7

degrees for most of us. Not a bad start with briefly some brightness

but quickly the weather front returns and produces further

outbreaks of rain, particularly in the afternoon. Winds are fresh from

the South West but will slowly drop and become north-westerly by the end

of the afternoon and temperatures should get up to double figures. The

forecast for the Isles of Scilly. Brighter in the afternoon once the

weather front clears. Times of high water.

As we saw through the weekend and last week the waves are out there

and the north-west is between nine and 12 feet with quite choppy

conditions as well, if not messy. There is the coastal waters

forecast. Patchy rain around with moderate visibility in the rain.

Friday looks like it will be a wet and windy day but mild with

temperatures up to 12 or 13. Saturday is Christmas Eve and it

will be quite blustery but mainly dry. Saturday night is windy for

Father Christmas, but he can cope with that.

Let's hope so! Thank you very much. That's all from us for now with the

next update at 10:30pm. Remind me what this Christmas decoration did?

It will drive everyone mad. So glad I asked. Good night.