7 Days of Headlines with Phil Mills

Elms could make a return to Brighton, jail for betting shop robber and Earth Hour on the seafront

Elm trees may yet again thrive in Brighton and Hove after scientists successfully cloned rare specimens which have proven resistant to the deadly Dutch elm disease.

Recent years have seen scores of the beautiful trees die and felled after being infested and although the breakthrough won’t make existing elms immune from the disease, new elms with a built-in defence could be planted. Scientists in Canada have found a way of cloning trees that have survived epidemics. In North America alone, 95 per cent of elms have been wiped out.

Meanwhile, Sussex MP Francis Maude, was called upon to resign as Cabinet Office Minister after suggesting people fill jerry cans with petrol to prepare for strike action by tanker drivers. A woman suffered 40 per cent burns pouring fuel in her kitchen while the oven was on, and there were queues at petrol stations up and down the country.

On the crime front, Martin Joseph Reilly, 53, was jailed for life at Brighton Crown Court for seven counts of robbing betting shops, one of attempted robbery, eight counts of possessing a firearm whilst committing an offence, and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon. Detective Inspector Ian Still, who led the nationwide investigation, said: “Reilly lived a life of crime and was a prolific offender. He showed no regard for any of his victims who were all threatened with a weapon before being robbed. Almost all of his victims have been left traumatised.”

Police warned women after two were attacked and robbed in Adelaide Crescent, Hove, and a thief has stolen or has tried to steal cash from more than 30 telephone kiosks in the city. If you have any information about the crimes, call 0845 6070 999.

Hove and Portlsade MP Mike Weatherley has become a patron of the Cybersmile Foundation, a new charity addressing the growing trend of cyberbullying. The Foundation, founded by Brightonian Scott Freeman, is the first and only UK charity dedicated to helping victims of cyberbullying. Go to www.cybersmile.org.

Travellers camped in Hollingbury park brought complaints from
local residents.

On Brighton seafront, children are set to make a splash. The city’s Children’s Festival has organised Sea Splash on 12 April between 8-9.30am, when dozens of parents will brave the chilly water and go for a paddle to celebrate Easter. Free wetsuits and swim hats will be provided – visit www.thechildrensfestival.co.uk

A torch lit walk was held along Brighton & Hove seafront to mark Earth Hour, organised by the city council as part of an international event lead by the World Wide Fund, which encouraged people to turn off their lights to raise awareness of climate change and saving energy.

Plastic windows installed without permission in a conservation area have led to fines and costs of more than £5,000. The city council took action after the owner of the property in Walpole Terrace failed to comply with a planning enforcement notice. And land being used for unauthorised commercial car parking near Brighton station must be cleared and landscaped after the council served enforcement notices.

Lewes MP and Transport Minister Norman Baker visited Brighton station to launch the new Brighton Line Commuters website started by rail user group spokeswoman, Shelley Atlas, www.brightonlinecommuters.org.

And finally, it’s time to get your gloves off for our wounded heroes in the military – East Sussex firefighters and Sussex Police officers are squaring up for a boxing evening organised by ex-serviceman Lee Brown at the Metropole Hotel on Saturday 28 April to raise £10,000 for Help for Heroes. For ticket information go to www.leebrownevents.com