The M25 has returned to normal after workers finally repaired a sinkhole that developed along the entire width of a lane at junction nine.

The hole, which police said measured 16ft long and 11.8in deep caused chaos on the roads with tailbacks and some drivers described how they tried to get past the hole only to shred their tires.

Engineers had been working for days to repair the damage with heavy rain being blamed for not allowing the concrete to set properly which made the job harder to do.

The sinkhole was eventually filled yesterday and traffic has now returned to normal after some drivers going towards Gatwick Airport yesterday said they'd missed their flight as disruption lasted for a few more hours.

THE party will return to Reigate's Lesbourne Road this Christmas.

After the success of last year's event, the road will be closed on November 29 from 4pm to allow the festivities to take over once more.

This year's nominated charity to benefit from the occasion is the Patrick Evans Foundation, and there will be stalls and refreshments on offer to entice shoppers.

A Christmas tree has been supplied by Robert Leech and Partners estate agents, and there will be a performance by the gospel choir from Redhill Baptist Church.

There will even be an appearance from Father Christmas and the fun is spreading further with many shops on nearby South Road also joining in, along with food stalls from Reigate Street Eats.

Sam Connolly, from Greensleeves florist, is organising the event and is encouraging people to get involved.

She said: "Last year was such a success we thought we would do it all over again.

"It is all about getting into the Christmas spirit and it is a great community event."

She added: "It is all coming together nicely and it has been fun to do."

TWO police officers from East Surrey have been commended for their courage and determination.

In a case taking longer than a year to resolve, investigating officer Stephen Hickey, based in Reigate, uncovered frauds totalling more than £200,000.

Meanwhile, Special Constable Stewart Menhenett of Caterham was off duty when he came to the rescue of a man knocked unconscious with head injuries.

The pair were honoured at the Divisional Commendation ceremony held at Guildford Cathedral on October 23.

Over the past year Mr Hickey had been investigating a complex fraud case focusing on the sale of tickets to events that never happened.

Through investigating the initial offender, Mr Hickey discovered a number of additional offences. These had links to offences in Kent and uncovered more associates to be investigated.

A second offender was also found to be the first's father-in-law. The pair made promises, collected money but then failed to provide the goods.

Presenting Mr Hickey with the award, Detective Superintendent Paul Rymarz said: "All of the frauds were in relation to sporting and musical events that people had set their hopes on attending, for them not to transpire, making the crime even more galling."

The crimes generated more than £200,000.

The first offender pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud with 37 other offences being taken into consideration. He received three and a half years in prison.

The second offender pleaded guilty to money laundering and received nine months in prison plus 200 hours of unpaid supervised community service.

Stewart Menhenett, a special constable in Caterham, also received a commendation.

On the evening of March 30 this year, another detective constable was on night duty when he was called to a report of grievous bodily harm in Caterham. A man had suffered serious head injuries after being assaulted in the High Street area.

At the same time Mr Menhenett was waiting for a bus after work and had changed out of his uniform.

While at the bus stop he heard a commotion and then saw two men running past him from the direction of the noise. Mr Menhenett headed to the commotion, finding an unconscious man lying in the street having been assaulted. Mr Menhenett called 999, confirmed the ambulance was en route to the injured man, then gave a running commentary of the events as they were unfolding. Mr Menhenett retraced the route of the potential offenders, keeping the control room updated with the relevant information.

The ambulance crew took the victim to hospital, while Mr Menhenett returned to the police station and got back into uniform to assist with the investigation.

Presenting the award, Det Sup Paul Rymarz said: "In doing so, Mr Menhenett allowed the night shift detective to obtain a detailed witness statement from him, the vital details of the suspects and their actions.

"His involvement and presence of mind to take notice and provide an early and accurate update to the control room, played a valuable part in the investigation that led to the offenders being identified and charges considered."

TWO people have been cautioned by police after climbing on top of vehicles outside the drilling site near Horley.

Officers, who have maintained a steady presence outside the site for the past two months, arrested and cautioned one man in his 40s on Monday for willful obstruction of the highway.

Then, in a separate incident at 2pm the same day, a woman in her 40s was arrested and cautioned for the same offence.

According to protesters, the first vehicle was a lorry while the second was carrying part of a drill rig out of the Horse Hill site.

An anti-fracking protest camp has been present outside the site since October 6. This week's cautions are the latest in a string of incidents as tension continues to mount.

One protester, Isabelle Bish from Waterlooville, made an allegation of assault last month, which she says occurred while she was protesting outside the facility.

As previously reported in the Mirror, nearby residents and members of Frack Free Surrey are nervous after a statement from oil company Magellan – which owns a 35 per cent stake in the drilling site – appeared to suggest tests for shale could take place there.

Because fracking is a process which involves drilling thousands of feet down into shale rock, then forcing water, sand and chemicals into wells at high pressure to release gas and oil, this has caused concern.

But Scott Bradley, chief executive of drill operator Horse Hill Developments, said: "We are having an open dialogue with the local community and would like to stress once again that this is a conventional well and none of the interested parties have any intention whatsoever of unconventional drilling."

A BIBLE which vanished from a cathedral library more than 40 years ago has been returned to its rightful owners – after being donated to a charity shop.

The vellum-bound Latin New Testament, which was published in London in 1574 by French theologian Theodore Beza, is thought to have been stolen from Exeter Cathedral library in the early 1970s.

At the time of its disappearance, it was on public display with the rest of the Harington Collection, a set of books bequeathed to the cathedral by one-time chancellor Canon Edward Charles Harington in the 1890s.

The book remained missing until a sharp-eyed customer at the Oxfam bookshop in High Street, Dorking, noticed the inscription "EC Harington Exeter Oct 22 1867" and alerted shop staff to the amazing discovery.

Oxfam volunteer Pauline Whitehead said: "A dealer came in to the shop and pointed it out to us so we took it off sale and contacted Exeter Cathedral library.

"We were quite shocked. We rang them straight away and sent them all the details and they told us it was part of a collection that had been donated by a man called Harington.

"We were all amazed.

"You just never know what you're going to get coming in."

The book was donated to the store anonymously among what manager Mary Palfrey described as a "mishmash of books". It was initially put on sale before its importance was realised.

After being alerted to the discovery, Exeter Cathedral archivist Ellie Jones visited the shop to confirm the book, thought to be worth around £1,000, was genuine. She then made a donation to Oxfam for finding the lost work.

The New Testament edition has now been returned to Exeter Cathedral where it will be put on display with a write-up of its four-decade adventure, before being returned to the Harington Collection in a secure section of the library along with other antique manuscripts and books.

Mrs Palfrey said: "The bookshop team is very pleased to have been instrumental in restoring the book to its rightful home."

Ann Barwood, canon librarian at Exeter Cathedral, said everyone at the library was grateful to Oxfam's volunteers.

She told the Mirror: "It's one of the most exciting things going on at the library and it was two or three days of really interesting phone calls.

"It was just one of those things, completely out of the blue.

"It's a wonderful turn of events and I don't think we can thank the person who identified the book, and the staff, enough for their integrity in informing us and allowing this book to come back."

CHIPSTEAD manager Steve Baker described his team as being either "Brazil or Botswana" as they were held to a 1-1 draw by nine-man Hythe Town on Saturday in the Ryman South. 

Chips skipper Dan Moody opened the scoring ten minutes in for the visitors, before the Cannons were reduced to ten-men seven minutes later when Dave Cook was very harshly sent off. 

Phil Stevenson scored a penalty for Hythe in a second half which the home side dominated, with the Chips a million miles from their best. The hosts went down to nine men with ten minutes to go when James Morrish was given his marching orders, but Chipstead couldn't kill the game off and then saw Mark McCleod red-carded in injury time after raising his hand to the face of Hythe's Jordan Wells. 

After the game, Baker said: "I felt like reading the riot act because it really was a game of two halves but I didn't, it wasn't the right thing to do. Excuse the cliche, but we were Jekyll and Hyde today. Our biggest frustration is one minute we play well, but we are either Brazil or Botswana and it was the same again today. 

"We know there is a few things to work on. We did really well first half, played some good football could have killed it off a little better. Them going down to ten is irrelevant as they have one up front then put nine behind the ball, sometimes that's harder to play against. 

"I said at half time to keep doing what we were doing, keep going but then, we were bloody awful in that second half, that's the infuriating thing."

THOUSANDS of children queued up for a photo and paw print from Britain's Got Talent's Pudsey – VIP guest at Redhill's Christmas lights switch-on.

Belfry Shopping Centre was at its "busiest ever" according to manager Andy Nash, as more than 26,000 people passed through the mall.

Saturday's festivities started at 1pm when Children In Need mascot Pudsey – not to be confused with the headlining dog –hosted a teddy bears' picnic.

Children's craft and game stalls kept crowds entertained before the main event in the evening.

"It was absolutely amazing, a fantastic day," Mr Nash said. "It was certainly the busiest I've ever seen the centre.

"We had various side stalls set up collecting donations for Children In Need and had several buckets rattling around the day.

"There was pick-a-duck, splat-a-rat, hoopla, we were giving away free popcorn and Heart FM were there with some fun stuff for the children throughout the day."

Young singers from So You Wanna Be performing arts school based at The Harlequin Theatre warmed up the crowd before Mr Nash and Pudsey the bear teased the crowd with a "Nashley and Pudsey" dance.

But they quickly made way for the real thing – dog trick act and Britain's Got Talent 2012 winners Ashleigh and Pudsey.

Mr Nash said: "It was very well-received. It was a wonderful performance. Then Pudsey, with his little paw, switched the lights on and the snow came down.

"Hundreds of children queued for autographs and pictures with Pudsey for about an hour afterwards. It was very successful."

More than £1,100 was raised for Children In Need.

The centre has more Christmas events than ever leading up to the big day, with Santa arriving on a sleigh pulled by huskies to set up his grotto on November 30.

AN ARMED raider assaulted three women and stole jewellery when he struck at the home of an award-winning entrepreneur and millionaire.

The robber is believed to have been carrying a gun when he forced his way into the property, near Kingswood Golf Course, at around 5.45pm on Wednesday last week.

The gunman forced the women to hand over the jewellery they were wearing.

Then he made them open a safe where a "high-value" amount of jewellery was stolen.

A woman in her 50s was punched in the face and a woman in her 20s was also assaulted.

Both women were taken to hospital for treatment for shock and minor injuries but have since been allowed home.

The other victim, who is in her 20s, was left shocked but uninjured.

The house belongs to Robert Stiff, the founder and managing director of Banstead-based Team24.

The father-of-two won an Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2012, soon after selling the firm for £24m.

Mr Stiff told the Mirror that his family was "coping" as best they could after their ordeal.

He said he had been liaising with the police, and there were no plans at this stage to put forward a reward to try and help identify the offender.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Paul Gordon of East Surrey CID, said: "I would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the offence or has information on who is responsible to contact Surrey Police urgently.

"The offender is clearly a dangerous and violent individual who will go to great lengths to get what he wants.

"Although the investigation is still in the early stages, it is believed this was a targeted offence.

"It may be possible that the offender had carried out visits to the area prior to the burglary.

"I would urge anyone who either lives or runs a business in the area, and who has CCTV on their property, to make contact as this may hold footage vital to our investigation."

The gunman was described as white, about 6ft 4in tall and of stocky build.

He wore a black balaclava, black jacket and black leather gloves, and spoke with a London accent.

Anyone who has been offered jewellery which they believe may have been stolen in the burglary, or has any other information, should call police on 101.

THE East Surrey GP practices most at risk of providing poor care have been revealed in health watchdog figures.

On Monday, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for inspecting health services, published online results for more than 7,200 practices in England.

It means patients in East Surrey can compare GP surgeries in the area for the first time.

Four GP practices: The Longcroft Clinic in Banstead, Oxted Health Centre in Oxted, Holmhurst Medical Centre in Merstham and Lingfield Surgery in Lingfield, have been placed in the lowest band – making them among the highest priority targets for future inspections by the CQC.

Every practice has been monitored using different types of evidence such as patient experience, care and treatment, based on sources including surveys and official statistics.

From this, the CQC has produced 38 indicators for each facility on whether patients at the surgery could be at "risk" or "elevated risk", compared against a national average.

Most of the area's practices have now been placed into a series of bands, from one (highest perceived concern) to six (lowest perceived concern) to help plan inspections from next year.

Dr Derrick Hinkes, a partner in the Elizabeth House practice in Warlingham which was placed in band six, said: "We are delighted to get a top rating. We take all feedback seriously, good or bad.

"We are a smaller practice with about 5,500 patients and can offer a more personalised service which is appreciated.

"The expansion of our surgery a few years ago was a big help, and we have a patients' group which provides useful feedback."

Of those in the lowest band, Longcroft Clinic in Woodmansterne Lane had concerns raised over issues with treatment of flu and diabetes and patients' fears over consultations being overheard.

There was a concern of "elevated risk" over the percentage of patients aged over 65 at the surgery who received a seasonal flu vaccination and the percentage of patients with diabetes who received a foot examination and risk classification in the previous 12 months.

Another potential "elevated risk" concerned the proportion of patients who were satisfied they were not being overheard by other patients in the reception area.

At Holmhurst Medical Centre, in Thornton Side, there are potential concerns over the percentage of people aged between six months and 65 years at risk of influenza, who received a vaccination between September last year and February.

While at Oxted Health Centre, in Gresham Road, patient satisfaction with opening hours is classed as an "elevated risk".

Data from Lingfield Surgery, in East Grinstead Road, also highlighted concerns about flu vaccinations for patients over 65.

In a statement on its website, the CQC said the information is not a judgement on GPs, but that instead the profiles bring together information to help the body make decisions about inspections.

While the ratings may not mean people using the practice are at risk, the tool will help the CQC work out where, when and what to inspect.

Other practices in East Surrey were placed in band six by the watchdog. These included The Wall House Surgery in Reigate and the Horley Health Centre.

Professor Steve Field, chief inspector of general practice for the CQC, said: "It is important to remember that the data is not a judgement as it is only when we inspect we can determine if a practice provides safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

"The data is a further tool that will help us to decide where to inspect and when."

Dr Joe McGilligan, chair of NHS East Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), whose membership consists of 18 GP practices in the area including Oxted Health Centre, Holmhurst Medical Centre and Lingfield Surgery, said: "We know the GP practices in East Surrey are committed to providing the very best care for their patients and we welcome any initiative that aims to improve patient experience of local health services.

"It is important to remember that the CQC inspections have not yet been carried out and this data is not a judgement or rating of any GP practice. As a CCG we remain committed to high quality patient care and will monitor the formal inspection process over the next 18 months while working closely with all our member practices to make improvements for patients where necessary."

Below is a complete list of surgery results for East Surrey. Each practice has been placed into a series of bands by the CQC, from one (highest perceived concern) to six (lowest perceived concern) to help plan inspections from next year. GP practices which have been inspected since April 1 2014 and had a report published will not appear on this list, nor will facilities the CQC has judged to be too small for its monitoring methods to be accurate.

Band 6

Horley Health Centre, Kings Road, Horley

Smallfield Surgery, Wheelers Lane, Smallfield

The Wall House, Yorke Road, Reigate

Moat House Surgery, Worsted Green, Merstham

Caterham Valley Medical Practice, Eothen House, Caterham

Whyteleafe Surgery, Station Road, Whyteleafe

Elizabeth House Medical Practice, Limpsfield Road, Warlingham

Warlingham Green Medical Practice, Church Road, Warlingham

Band 5

South Park Medical Centre, Prices Lane, Reigate

Greystone House Surgery, Station Road, Redhill

The Hawthorns Surgery, Oxford Road, Redhill

Townhill Medical Practice, Guards Avenue, Caterham

Band 4

Woodlands Surgery, Woodlands Road, Redhill

Pond Tail Surgery, The Green, Godstone

Heathcote Medical Centre, Heathcote, Tadworth

Tadworth Medical Centre, Troy Close, Tadworth 

Band 3

Nork Clinic, Nork Way, Banstead

Band 2

N/A

Band 1

The Longcroft Clinic,Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead

Oxted Health Centre, Gresham Road, Oxted

Holmhurst Medical Centre, Thornton Side, Merstham

Lingfield Surgery, East Grinstead Road, Lingfield

MOTORISTS have been warned of a roadside petrol scam which has already cost three victims hundreds of pounds.

People are being conned into handing over money to fraudsters flagging them down and pretending they desperately need cash for fuel.

The first incident was reported to Surrey Police on Thursday, November 6, when a 64-year-old man from Walton-on-Thames, had been driving along Lammas Lane, Esher, at around 2.15pm when he was flagged down.

He gave two men, described as smartly dressed 40-50 years old, dark skinned, possibly Arabic and of large build, £20 cash in exchange for three gold rings. The suspects also gave him a business card and promised to pay him back.

The rings have since been found to be worthless and business cards fake.

Two further incidents took place on Saturday (Nov 15) between 9.45 and 10.10am.

A 54-year-old man from Byfleet stopped to help a man on the slip road of the A3 by the Cobham roundabout, who said he needed to get to Glasgow.

The victim refused the offer of rings and drove to Sainsbury's petrol station where he handed over £240 for fuel. The suspect took the victim's mobile phone number and gave him a business card, later established as fake. 

The suspect has been described as having an Asian appearance, around 40-45 years old and having a stocky build. He had a moustache, short, dark well-kept hair, wearing a white shirt and dark trousers and tie. 

There were four other men in the same car, believed to be a Mitsubishi.

The third victim, a 58-year-old man from Farnborough was flagged down on the A316 by two men, described as being Asian or Eastern European and driving a dark blue Saab, also hoping to get to Glasgow and offered to sell him gold jewellery for £250.

They followed the victim to the BP petrol station on Staines Road East where the victim withdrew £250 for the suspects.

Investigating officer PC Dave Atkinson, said: "These are despicable offences where innocent people have had their goodwill taken advantage and they have been conned out of money by bogus motorists in need when stopping to help.

"I urge anyone who comes across people acting suspiciously at the roadside or trying to flag passing motorists down for assistance to call 101.

"Similarly, there is a strong possibility that these crimes may be linked and other incidents may have taken place in other parts of the county.

"Anyone who has been offered jewellery in exchange for money for petrol should contact Surrey Police. Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could prove vital to the investigation and bring those responsible to justice."

Anyone who has information should call 101 and quote reference 45140096483.  Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THE importance of the Poppy Appeal was not lost on one Horley girl, who came up with a bright idea to raise funds

Nine-year-old Amy Harman, from Horley, has made more than £100 for the appeal by selling her home-made poppy-themed loom bands to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

Mum Michelle told the Mirror: "She got asked to make one of the loom bands originally for the centenary celebrations. It was for her stepfather.

"When she made him the original ones he said to her, 'These are lovely it would be a great idea if we could make some for Remembrance'.

"Over the course of time she made 100 for the day and a few more for family and friends."

Amy, a pupil at Manorfield Primary School in Horley, then sold the bands in the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday and also on the day, raising more than £100 in the process.

Mrs Harman, of Court Lodge Road, added: "She was adamant that she wanted to make them and raise as much money as she could make. We are so proud of her, it's absolutely fantastic.

"Once she gets into it she's making them pretty quickly. She can probably make 10 a night if she hasn't got other things to do.

"She's always trying to think of ways to do things for other people. She's trying to come up with ideas to go to different charities."

Mrs Harman said Amy's fundraising drive started after a close family member became ill, which sparked a few charity appeals from fellow family members.

She continued: "Amy's really chuffed that she could actually do something and she raised quite a bit of , which she's really chuffed with. She's had it all explained to her what it could all go towards doing."

And when Amy went into school the following Monday after her successful fundraising, she was presented with an award by the head teacher.

The money she raised will go to the Poppy Appeal, the annual fundraising campaign for the Royal British Legion (RBL) which goes towards welfare work for service men and women.

After Horley's Remembrance Sunday service, Amy approached Bill Watson from the Horley branch of the Royal British Legion with the £107 she had earned up to that point. Further sales after Remembrance Sunday took the total to £115.

Mr Watson told the Mirror: "I was flabbergasted to be quite honest. I wasn't aware that this young lady had even thought about doing this let alone presenting £107 to me, which I thought was incredible. This is the first time this has happened."

MORRISONS solicitors, which has a branch in Clarendon Road, Redhill, is seeking readers' help to allocate money to local charities.

To celebrate the launch of Morrisons' new website, the firm is aiming to give away £1,000 through an online competition.

The charities in the running to gain the funding boost are Relate Mid Surrey, Merton Mencap, Woking & Sam Beare Hospices, the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, and Teddington and Hampton Wick Voluntary Care.

Log on to www.morrlaw.com and vote for your favourite charity.

Voting closes on December 7. The winning charity will receive £500.

The others will each receive £125.

One voter will win a box of goodies from a free draw.

CHRISTMAS lights have been hung in Horley's town centre, ready for the big switch on.

Volunteers were out in the High Street throughout most of Tuesday, attaching the lights to various structures, including lampposts.

Horley electrician Bryn Marsh stepped up to offer his services at a fraction of the usual price.

Mr Marsh told the Mirror: "I just thought it would be a good gesture to help putting them up. Every year it goes on now we will build up the funds to get more lights and make it even better."

The arrival of lights follows a successful fundraising campaign from Horley Association of Traders (HATs) to raise money to light up the town.

HATs member Caroline Hancock told the Mirror: "We can't thank Bryn enough because to do this normally it would cost loads and loads of money."

At least £2,000 has been raised from company sponsors, with more set to be announced.

This has covered the cost of the lights and construction firm Skanska has fixed all the broken electricity sockets, which caused serious problems during last year's set up.

The lights will be turned on at the Christmas Fayre, on November 29 at 4.30pm.

The day starts at 10am and will feature 35 stalls, a Gingerbread Grotto for the children including real reindeer at the Horley Young Peoples' Centre in Albert Road.

The winner of the school colouring-in competition will turn on the lights and the town's mayor, Richard Olliver, and East Surrey's MP, Sam Gyimah, will be attending.

The band Acouticatz are also performing Christmas songs at 1.30pm and 3.30pm to get everyone in the mood. Mulled wine and mince pies will be available.

MORE than 20 guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have so far been handed in during Surrey Police's weapons amnesty.

The haul has comprised six air weapons, half a dozen shotguns, five revolvers, four pistols and a rifle, as well as more than 500 cartridges and bullets.

In addition, other firearms were handed in which have not yet been examined.

These were surrendered during the first week of the fortnight-long amnesty which ends tomorrow (Friday).

New legislation which took effect in July increased the maximum jail term for illegal gun possession from 10 years to life. Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at local police stations.

A FORMER Scout leader has had his conviction for stalking overturned on appeal.

In January, Simon Edge was found guilty of stalking his ex-partner Maria Perfect; in March, a court gave him a five-year restraining order banning him from going within 100m of Miss Perfect or contacting her.

The case related to two incidents alleged to have taken place early last year while Mr Edge was on bail for another offence which was never taken to court.

Miss Perfect claimed that on March 8, 2013, Mr Edge had repeatedly driven past their former home in Alexander Crescent, Caterham, which he was banned from visiting, thereby intimidating her.

She also claimed he had followed her into Tesco in Caterham on March 15.

However, in an appeal hearing held at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday and Friday last week, Judge Christopher Critchlow overturned the decision.

Delivering his verdict, Judge Critchlow said: "We are not sure he is guilty of this offence."

Mr Edge and Miss Perfect, who had been together for many years, have a young son and are currently in the midst of proceedings in family court.

Judge Critchlow added: "This is unfortunately a sad example of a couple going through a separation, where there are issues concerning their 13-year-old son and contact, and issues surrounding property and the former matrimonial home."

Mr Edge is a member of Caterham Round Table and was assistant Scout leader with the 1st Caterham group and assistant district commissioner for Caterham and District Cub Scouts until he was suspended in February 2013 following the initial allegations which did not reach court.

During last week's hearing, Mr Edge told the court he was not "stalking" Miss Perfect on March 8 but was looking for a post-woman. This was in order to ask her to deliver his personal mail to his work premises rather than to the house as he believed it was not being passed on.

He told the court: "I looked all over Caterham, on various occasions, at various times."

Mr Edge admitted driving down the road was "probably not the best move", but added: "At the time I didn't think about it. I was looking for Claire the post lady."

The court was also shown CCTV footage from Tesco seven days later which showed Mr Edge enter the store shortly after Miss Perfect and later join the same queue as her. He said he normally went there for his lunch and did not know Miss Perfect was there. Once inside he said he avoided Miss Perfect once he saw her.

He admitted that "in hindsight" he should have left the store, saying he would in future.

He added: "I didn't expect her to freak out; we were in a public place with CCTV and a mass of members of the public."

Despite acquitting Mr Edge, Judge Critchlow left a three-year restraining order in place which forbids Mr Edge from contacting Miss Perfect directly or indirectly, including phoning her, texting her or staring at her.

He is also banned from going within 100m of Alexander Crescent or any other place Miss Perfect might live.