A MAN has been charged after seven burglary offences at shops across East Surrey.

The offences include three at Marks and Spencer on Banstead High Street during the early hours of February 25, April 21 and June 6. Police say tills at the store were damaged and £1,200 in cash was taken.

In June two Sainsbury's stores, one on Limpsfield Road in Warlingham and another on Cheam Road in Ewell were broken into. Windows were also smashed at the front of both properties.

Other offences concern two stores in the Ashley Centre in Epsom, including Ernest Jones the jewellers, which had 30 Tag Swiss watches stolen at around 11pm on May 12. House of Fraser also had items of clothing stolen at around 12.30am on Tuesday, 6 May.

David Stuart West, 34, of Manor Road in Wallington has been charged with conspiracy to burgle and has been remanded in custody until Wednesday, September 3 when he is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates Court.

West has also been charged with a number of offences in the Metropolitan Police area.

POLICE are warning residents to be on their guard after a spate of burglaries around Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood and Horley.

Officers from Surrey Police have reminded residents that burglaries are normally opportunistic and to ensure homes are locked over the bank holiday weekend and have increased the number of patrols in the towns, with CID, response officers and uniformed officers all providing assistance.  

Detective Sergeant Ian Cherrington from East Surrey CID, said: "Understandably news of these burglaries will cause concern for residents in these areas but there are simple measures you can take in an attempt to prevent burglaries occurring.

"It is a common misconception that burglaries are planned and that offenders scope a property days before committing the offence, in reality most offences are opportunistic which is why it is essential to secure your property.

"The A23 is a popular route through East Surrey and I would ask anyone who is travelling in this area to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, especially those travelling to and from Gatwick Airport who are likely to be travelling at unsocial hours when offenders are likely to strike."

Information about keeping your property secure can be found by visiting http://www.surrey.police.uk/.

Call Surrey Police on 101 with information, or 999 if in an emergency or a crime is in progress.

A family of eight, including six children, were rescued off Box Hill last night.

Fire crews from Dorking and Reigate carried the youngsters to safety at about 8pm after the family was stranded about 400 feet up the steep slope, feeling unable to either move up or down.

Tony Wren, a Reigate firefighter, said: "I don't think the family, from London, realised how steep it was.

"They were stuck, and it was gradually getting dark.

"That ascent is not meant for a young family."

He said the parents were very grateful and relieved at the firefighters' intervention.

The family was escorted to Westhumble station to make their way home.

Surrey Police has released a new photograph in the hunt for missing Natasha Sandford from Caterham.

The 15-year-old was last seen at around 10.20am on Sunday, 10 August in the Foxon Lane area of the town wearing jeans and a hooded top.

It is out of character for Natasha to go this length of time without making contact with friends or family and officers are urging anyone who has information on her whereabouts to share this information with them.

It is now believed she has travelled to the Croydon area where she may be regularly using public transport.

Investigating officer DS Tristan Hardiman, said: "We are issuing this renewed appeal and additional photograph of Natasha in the hope that people will keep an eye out for her over this bank holiday weekend.

"If you believe you know her whereabouts please contact Surrey Police with information.

"If Natasha is reading this I would like to reassure her that she is not in any trouble, we simply want to ensure she is safe and well. This can be done either by contacting Surrey Police directly on 101 or by calling or texting the charity Missing People on 116 000."

Natasha is described as white, around 5ft 4ins in height, of average build with very long fair hair which she usually ties up in either a pony tail or bun.

Anyone who can help officers locate Natasha is urged to contact Surrey Police on 101.

A FITNESS instructor from Reigate has raised £14,500 for The Children's Trust.

Paul Prothero, a British Military Fitness (BMF) instructor who holds sessions at Priory Park, organised a charity ball after the Tadworth-based charity gave him 16 of their places for the 2015 London Marathon.

In return, the 33-year-old set himself the target of raising £50,000 to give back to the charity, which provides specialist care for severely disabled children.

The charity ball was held at Epsom Downs race track last month, with more than 20 BMF staff, members and friends attending.

There were 15 auction prizes in total, including a ski chalet for a week, a day in London being chauffeur-driven to the Gherkin for a candlelit meal for two, and two hours' coaching with a world level boxing coach.

The final auction prize was for Paul and another BMF instructor to visit the auction winner's house and cook them a meal – this particular prize made £600 alone.

Paul, who is now organising his next event to reach his grand total, said he was "overwhelmed" by the support. "The attendance was one thing, but the total amount raised is just phenomenal," he added.

NINE days of disruption and delays are in store for rail passengers.

From Saturday until Sunday August 31 inclusive, no Southern or First Capital Connect trains will run to or from London Bridge, amid major work.

To add to the woes, First Capital Connect Thameslink trains will not stop at Redhill.

Many stations and trains between Surrey and London may be much busier at peak times.

Passengers are being urged to check their route into the capital and plan a different journey.

London Bridge's underground station will not be affected.

Trains will be running from Redhill to Victoria.

MORRISONS in Oxted will be opening at the earlier time of 6am, after customer demand.

The supermarket says it will now be opening an hour earlier and closing at the regular time of 10pm, in response to research showing customers prefer to shop during the quieter hours, early mornings and late evenings.

Store general manager Brendan O'Grady said: "The extension of our opening hours is one of many changes we are making to make shopping trips easier at our stores."

And Morrisons in Reigate has invested £50,000 in refurbishing its customer toilets and baby change area.

The Bell Street store's baby change facilities now cater for larger prams and buggies and incorporate baby feeding chairs for both mums and dads.

General manager Ray Pash said: "We have made a significant investment in our store's facilities. We hope that mums, dads and customers will agree that the improvements have been transformational.

ON A warm and sunny Wednesday afternoon last week, I was out and about in the Surrey countryside with a friend and we decided to stop for afternoon tea in Ripley.

A coffee shop that opened in this historic village two years ago is one of my favourites and a few months ago, while visiting the tearooms, I vowed to return.

So when the chance arose the other day, I jumped at the opportunity.

Ripley is just off the A3 south of the M25 motorway near Wisley and retains much of its old-fashioned charm. The main road used to be the chief London-Portsmouth route so no wonder there are a good number of centuries-old public houses on each side of the road, for in the days of yore, these would have provided weary travellers with much-needed refreshment.

We pulled up in the motor at a parking bay just past the Talbot Hotel and crossed the road, passing the exclusive Drakes restaurant, renowned for its expensive but delectable dishes.

A few yards along was Pinnocks, the coffee shop which occupies two floors of a 17th century property. There is even a small garden at the back.

We stepped in and a welcoming member of staff enquired of our order. A plate of three scones was on the counter and we immediately reserved them.

"With jam and cream, please," I said. We selected coffee and a pot of English breakfast tea and headed upstairs to a heavenly "snug" room, furnished with leather sofas, armchairs, and even a rather higgledy-piggledy library in the corner.

The large room, illuminated by several standard lamps, is a bit like an old farmhouse lounge with timber beams, exposed floorboards and small windows dating back hundreds of years.

We took a seat by the window, which looks across the road to the ancient timbered Cedar House building.

"Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding was playing gently in the background.

One of the customers nearby was asked by a relative: "So how are you feeling today?"

"Oh, much better thank you," came the reply.

A toddler with an exceptional amount of energy was running round excitedly, shrieking. He stopped and looked inquisitively at the floorboards and stamped his feet on them while his mother sipped coffee silently nearby.

The boys then emitted a loud excitable shrill scream and I found myself calling out "SSSShhh!".

Finally, the oblivious mums got the message and warned their charges to be quieter. Phew!

Sitting on the sofas nearby was a family gathering.

"I don't know whether he's going back to living on his own or what."

The waitress arrived with the cream teas. Lovely.

My friend sipped her coffee and smiled. She was happy.

Adele's "Make You Feel My Love" filled the air followed by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You".

Close by, a lady was saying her husband had been suffering from a cough and a cold.

"He woke up, snivelling and asked me: 'Do you think I'm well enough to go to work?' "

The chatter continued on the next table: "They drove around about five times so I felt sure they were going to move in."

Later, another member of the party said: "I think she's going out there to teach English as a foreign language."

We savoured every mouthful of the cream tea and noted how, charmingly, each tea-plate was different to the others.

"It's quite the thing to do now," said my friend. "They don't want it all uniform. Often the tables and chairs are a real mixture."

I stared at the non-matching gold-leaf rimmed tea-plate with a pink roses design and smiled, pouring my self another cup of tea.

The two mums and their children left the tearoom but one later returned, sighing. She had left her boy's plastic blue football behind.

Outside, the late afternoon traffic edged its way along the High Street.

"Apparently the traffic's better now because they've re-opened Newark Lane," said a lady sitting nearby. You can cut through Pyrford to Send and Old Woking."

A lady got up nearby and whispered to her friend: "I'm just going to pop to the loo."

The warm summer sun illuminated the 16th century Anchor public house opposite. I gazed at its tall chimneys and the hanging baskets outside.

Taking another sip of tea, I looked around and noticed a Trivial Pursuits game was available for customers to use.

An elderly lady in a dark blue cardie was helped to her feet.

"The seat's a bit low for me," she said, suppressing a sigh.

She and her fellow-diners got up to leave and they filed down the stairs.

"I'll go behind you and step on your skirt," joked her lady companion.

To prolong our enjoyable visit, I ordered a couple of melon and mango smoothies.

And when they were finished, it was time, sadly, time to bid farewell and brave the rush-hour for our homeward journeys.

It is now a perfect five from Chipstead after they saw off Faversham Town at High Road on Saturday.

Steve Baker's men were in control from the start and picked up all three points to remain top of Ryman League Division One South, that despite having Ben Dyett sent off early in the second period.

The visitors could not impose themselves on the Chips in the first half, although they might have scored early on when Josh Stanford wriggled his way into the box, but with the ball bobbling around, he took one touch too many and goalkeeper Milan Stojsavljevic smothered at his feet.

From there though it was all about the home side and they took a deserved two-goal lead into the half-time interval thanks to some poor defending from the Lilywhites.

Firstly Bobbie Webbe tapped into an unguarded net following good work from captain Mark McLeod, then Josh Gallagher did likewise after a pull back from Jack Buckle.

Faversham looked better at the start of the second half and were handed a route back into the match when Jack Harris, about to pull the trigger in the box, was brought down by Ben Dyett, who got a second yellow and a red.

Wayne Wilson dispatched the penalty, only just mind, as Stojsavljevic guessed the right way and got his hand to it, but it was game on.

David Botterill then should have levelled things when he sent a free header straight at the home keeper and Stojsavjlevic kept his side in control when he saved quite brilliantly with an outstretched leg when Harris looked destined to equalise.

That was the end of the Faversham revival though, as Chipstead comfortably held off the 11 men and added to their account with nine minutes to go when Will Turl dispossessed Freeman Rogers and laid the ball on a plate for Gallagher to net his second.

A FUNDRAISING family from South Nutfield gladly got themselves soaked with ice-cold water as part of a new internet craze to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.

David Setters, 57, was diagnosed with the degenerative disease in 2012 and has since raised more than £10,000 for MND Association, with the help of his three sons.

He told the Mirror of his diagnosis: "I was shattered by it. The worst part was having to tell my family and friends, because it is terminal."

The condition has had worldwide exposure in the last few weeks, after American social media craze Ice Bucket Challenge – in which you are nominated to have freezing cold water poured over you – was picked up by celebrities including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.

Now the craze has crossed the Atlantic, with premier league stars Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge among those posting videos of themselves getting soaked.

The ALS Association – MND Association's American counterpart – said it has received $13.3 million in donations from over 250,000 people in just three weeks, thanks to the now-viral stunt.

Not to miss an opportunity to raise vital funds for the UK charity, Mr Setters, his wife Helen and sons Andrew, Mark and Robert, were doused with freezing cold water in the garden of South Nutfield pub The Station on Sunday.

He told the Mirror: "It was quite a shock, there was a bit of shrieking."

Mr Setters can't use his arms, and the condition will slowly effect the rest of his body.

For other sufferers, the effects can take hold more quickly.

He said: "I'm quite lucky as it is slow-moving but there are quite a few younger people with families who suffer from it a lot faster. Some lose their voice at the beginning and can't speak or swallow.

"It's terminal. Some people die within six months of diagnosis, some people three to five years."

Mr Setters is now working from home as a consultant in the commodities market, while fundraising and raising awareness.

"I find it a bit more difficult to travel," he said. "I can't handle money in my pockets."

His twin sons, Andrew and Robert, ran the Brighton Marathon this year and third son Mark has taken part in gruelling mud runs to raise money.

On October 12, there will be a Reigatians against MND charity football match in Priory Park.

To donate, visit www.virgin moneygiving.com/team/stfagos

REIGATE MP Crispin Blunt has supported calls for a review into medicinal marijuana, labelling the current situation "absurd".

Mr Blunt's intervention comes after a letter was sent last week to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, by Minister for Crime Prevention Norman Baker, calling for a review into the Government's policy on the drug.

Marijuana is a controlled substance, but manufacturers can develop cannabis-based medicines under licence from the Home Office.

For example, Sativex, which contains the drug, is authorised for use in the UK for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Mr Baker, a Liberal Democrat, wrote: "I have seen more and more evidence that cannabis can provide genuine medical benefits to treat a number of conditions.

"There is a growing body of research that shows the medical properties of chemical components of cannabis. We should seriously consider whether it is valuable to treat conditions such as MS, glaucoma, chronic and neurogenic pain and the side effects from chemotherapy and HIV/AIDS treatments.

"I am uncomfortable that there are credible people I have met who tell me that cannabis is the only substance that helps relieve their condition, but not only are they stopped from accessing it officially but have to break the law to help their health.

"Other countries recognise that cannabis does have medicinal benefit and we need to look again at this to help people who are ill. This is a quite separate matter from the recreational use of cannabis which is not at issue here."

Following a letter from constituent Clifford Lee and Mr Baker's plea, Crispin Blunt has also implored the Government to seriously consider a revision of its medicinal marijuana policy.

In a statement he criticised the Government for its refusal to engage with the issue from an evidence-led perspective and added: "Sativex, the first cannabis derivative available in the UK, has been shown to reduce MS spasticity by up to 30 per cent in three quarters of patients. Nevertheless it is only accessible, as my constituents have found to their expense, via a frankly byzantine prescription process.

"However, it is not accessible at all for spasticity due to stroke, which is completely absurd as it has been found to work in a similar way to spasticity from MS in the USA. I have a constituent who continues to suffer from this stupidity, on whose behalf I want this fixed."

But the Home Office has already ruled out any chance of revising the regulations.

Emma Tilley, spokeswoman for the Home Office, said: "This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis or to soften our approach to its use as a medicine.

"There is clear scientific and medical evidence that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage people's mental and physical health. There has been a long-term downward trend in drug use over the last decade.

"Drug-related deaths in England and Wales have continued to fall during the past three years and people going into treatment today are more likely to free themselves from dependency than ever before."

OXTED Post Office will close for more than a week, ahead of a major revamp.

The site, in Station Road West, will shut at the close of business on Wednesday, September 3, and will reopen at 1pm on Friday, September 12, with longer opening times – closing at 5.30pm on Saturdays, instead of the current 12.30pm. There will also be two new-style open-plan counters and a modern screened position.

During the closure, alternative nearby post offices include those at High Street, Limpsfield, and Market Square, Westerham.

Keith Long, Post Office's South East area manager, said: "We know how important post office services are to residents in Oxted.

"We are confident this vibrant modern post office at the heart of the community will be popular."

TRAINS will not run from East Surrey to London Bridge for the next seven days, while the London station is redeveloped as part of £6.5bn Thameslink renovation programme,

Southern and First Capital Connect (FCC) services will be affected, with neither able to call at London Bridge until September 1. 

Some Southern London Bridge services will be diverted to London Victoria, some will start and terminate short of their original destination and some will not run at all. FCC services will be diverted away from London Bridge and will run via Elephant & Castle.

 London Overground, London Underground, London Buses and London Tramlink will all accept Southern and FCC tickets on any reasonable route to make life easier for commuters during the disruption.

Passengers are being advised to check carefully before travelling to see how their journeys will be affected.

Problems will be compounded by a revised service on the rest of the Southern network during the period.

For information visit www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk, www.southernrailway.com and www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk.

Booklets giving details of what train services will be running and how to get to London Bridge via alternate routes are available at all staffed Southern stations and extra staff will be on hand to help.

Rail bosses claim, when finished, the Thameslink Programme will give passengers "new spacious Thameslink trains, and new robust tracks" as well as "more reliable journeys, with up to 18 trains per hour travelling through London Bridge station."

Steve Baker admitted that when Faversham Town's Jack Harris was one-on-one with keeper Milan Stojsavljevic in the second half of Saturday's match, he feared the worst.

Chipstead had been 2-0 up, but at the time of Harris going through it was 2-1 and CHipstead were down to ten men.

Stojsavljevic stretched out a long leg to deny the frontman brilliantly though, and thereafter the Ryman League Division One South's early season pacesetters looked comfortable and saw out their fifth straight win since the campaign started to sit proudly atop the table.

Baker said: "I thought we showed a real steel about us. That game could have gone either way after the sending off and they are the games last year we wouldn't have got anything out of.

"We showed good character and it's a good win, I'm massively delighted about that.

"One of the most pleasing things is sometimes last year when we were worried about going down, you just play the best 11 and hopefully get a result, but today we've picked a particular system, dropping two or three key players because we thought it was right to go up against the way Faversham play.

"Key moments change games and we're fortunate with Milan, one-on-one he's top drawer. I thought when the geezer went through 'goal' but he's made a great stop and we settled down after that and could have had a few more goals."

Now Chipstead go to Whyteleafe on Bank Holiday Monday, aiming to make it a perfect August.

Baker added: "We know it's a tough test, it's a local derby, they've had a good start, they're a good attacking side, but I'd like to go there and nick something.

"If the lads come away from there with anything I'll be highly delighted. We'll go there full of confidence, but not arrogance because we know it's going to be a really tough test."