the gazette isle of wight
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IN THIS ISSUE: Brading’s oldest attraction: page 25
One man and his didge: page 24
Win tickets for Escala: page 21
Terror on the high street night by police investigating an armed robbery were peared to point the gun at her, transferred to custody on the but no shots were fired. After Island during Tuesday looting the shop, the robbers July 7. A 21-year-old man from Worthing, West Sussex, made their getaway, and the and a 23-year-old woman, stolen Land Rover was later found abandoned near the en- also from Worthing, were trance to Northwood House. being questioned by detectives in relation to an armed A massive police hunt robbery in Cowes. was launched following the Police also made a fresh daylight robbery at around appeal for two specific 3.15pm on Friday, July 3. witnesses to come forward. The amazing scenes were Detectives want to speak caught by CCTV cameras, with two men seen on IW while other people in the Council CCTV footage while area at the time, including the contributor of our picture the robbery was in progress. (right), captured the drama on One man, who appeared to cameras and mobile phones. be wearing a white and blue Two people arrested in Continued on page 3 West Sussex on Monday
By Peter White
Contributed
THIS IS the dramatic moment, captured on camera, when terror struck the streets of the Island. Two robbers, one carrying a sledgehammer and the other wielding what appeared to be a hand gun, jumped out of a stolen Land Rover Freelander in Cowes High Street to raid Benzie jewellers. Passers-by looked on in disbelief as the robbers, wearing balaclavas to try to protect their identity, smashed their way through the window of the shop before grabbing watches believed to be worth thousands of pounds. As an employee of the jewellers peered out of the door, one of the robbers ap-
Swine flu alert as holidays approach Dr Paul Bingham
Fireworks are go!
AFTER weeks of uncertainty and a Facebook campaign that has helped raise more than of visitors, which is bound to accelerate the spread of the flu, officially known as A/H1N1. £45,000, it has been confirmed that the Cowes Week fireworks will definitely go ahead. Dr Bingham pointed out: “The last thing Stuart Quarrie, chief executive officer of we want people to do is spread the flu in Cowes Week Limited, said: “With less than the doctor’s waiting room. We advise that four weeks to go we, the IW Council and they stay at home, and either phone NHS Direct or visit the website. This is a situation the anonymous donor who is involved had to either commit or cancel. We decided to where people can become good neighbours by helping out anyone who may have the flu commit.” Though they are still around £5,000 short symptoms. “If any sufferer contacts their GP by phone of the target amount, the organisers will be a prescription can be written, and the maybe collecting on the night, and any surplus made a neighbour or family member of the victim will be used towards next year’s fireworks. can collect it from the chemist.” Dr Bingham added: “We have been prepar-
ISLANDERS who fear they may have swine flu are being urged not to visit their doctor’s surgery. Fears have been expressed that anyone sitting in a surgery waiting room could help spread the disease throughout the Island. Even so Dr Paul Bingham, consultant in public health medicine for the Island, has warned that it is inevitable we will not miss the flu strain, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on June 11. At the beginning of the week just four cases of swine flu had been confirmed on the Island, and it is believed all the victims had picked up the disease during visits to the mainland. But with school holidays fast approaching the Island is bracing itself for a huge influx Continued on page 2
Doorstep traders warning
ISLANDERS are being warned to be on their guard against rogue traders following a spate of incidents in which residents have been conned out of hundreds of pounds. The Gazette has learned that scores of workers are travelling over from the mainland looking to carry out a variety of jobs. But invariably they charge sky high prices for sub-standard work.
Now Trading Standards officers on the Island are urging residents, particularly the old and vulnerable, to slam the door firmly shut on anyone they believe could be trying to make easy money at their expense. Trading Standards officer Lucinda Molyneux warned: “To put it bluntly they will bleed a person until that particular person hasn’t got anything left. “That is why it is so
important that anyone who has the good sense to send these traders on their way does not stop there. We urge them to pick up the phone and contact the police or the trading standards service. It is only in that way that we can prevent others from becoming victims. People need to have the confidence to say NO!” Full story page 5