Sussex World news bulletin on Monday, December 4

Sussex World reporter Sam Morton brings you the news making the headlines on Monday, December 4

Transcript

00:00 Hello, I'm Sam Morton and here is your daily Sussex News Bulletin on Monday December 4th.

00:06 Some very sad news to start off with as a 99 year old woman has died in hospital following

00:11 a suspected arson attack at a house in Bexhill. Police and firefighters were called to the

00:16 blaze at a first floor masonette in St Mark's Close which affected the first floor and roof

00:20 space at around 11pm on November 13th. Following the incident, a 99 year old woman and neighbour

00:27 was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation but later died in hospital, police

00:32 have confirmed. The cause of her death is under investigation. A 26 year old man from

00:37 Hastings was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and was released

00:42 on bail pending further enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to report it to

00:46 the police online or via 101 quoting 1457 of the 13th of November.

00:52 Meanwhile a popular Sussex village gift shop and tea room has announced it is set to close.

00:57 The Cornstall Emporium and Tea Room at Swan Corner in Pulbara is to shut at the end of

01:02 February. Owner Helen Johnson announced the closure on social media with a heavy heart.

01:08 She said the premises lease was up for renewal and after seeing the terms of the new lease

01:11 decided that we could not continue. She said the personal risks involved heavily outweigh

01:16 the financial gain. She added "The last three years have presented us with many challenges,

01:21 road closures, bridge repairs, parking problems and the extortionate increases in utility

01:26 bills alongside the ever increasing threat of flooding. We have survived all of these

01:31 and come out even stronger. We have enjoyed every minute but there comes a time when the

01:34 head has to overrule the heart." Hopefully someone shall continue a similar style of

01:38 business at the property as we know how important it is for the village at Pulbara and as far

01:42 as we are aware there are no plans to develop the building.

01:46 Finally staff at the original factory shop in Rustington took Elf on the Shelf to a whole

01:50 new level with a festive day of fundraising hosted by comedian Danny Mills in support

01:55 of West Sussex charity Waders Animal Rescue. The store had fun on Saturday with staff on

02:00 the shelf putting a unique spin on the popular elf concept. Store manager Louise Miles was

02:06 put on the shelf and funds were raised for the fairing based charity as customers helped

02:10 to rescue her from the naughty elves. The fun day included a tombola, cake sale and

02:15 several elves on the loose in the store. Louise said "We had an amazing day. We raised £400

02:20 for Waders. All money raised will help provide care for the hundreds of pets needing new

02:25 homes and the thousands of wildlife casualties that the charity rescues every year." Jenny

02:30 Freeman Waders fundraising manager said "The team at the original factory shop, Rustington,

02:35 have been a fantastic support to Waders and we are so grateful for their brilliant fundraising."

02:39 For all of those stories and much more you can see our website sussexworld.co.uk