HEAD coach Jonny Hylton insists Old Reigatian have "nothing to lose" as they prepare to face Sutton & Epsom in the Surrey Cup on Saturday.

Old Reigatian got through to the final of the competition last year without playing a game before losing heavily to Guildford, but with more entries this season it will be a tougher route for the Reigate side – however, Hylton is happy for a break from league action.

"Sutton & Epsom got promoted from our league a couple of years ago, so they are in the league above us and it's at their place so we will be the underdogs," he said. "It will be a tough game for us but it will be a challenge and we will go there looking to cause an upset because, really, we have nothing to lose.

"It's a nice break for us as well because you can get a little caught up in the league fixtures so it's good to just go out there and play a bit of rugby.

"Ideally, we will have a good game and get a bit of momentum to go back into the league fixtures with."

After a run of three wins in London Two South East, Old Reigatian lost 19-16 to Weybridge Vandals at Park Lane on Saturday.

And Hylton admits his side got "sucked into" Weybridge's game.

"It was very frustrating but, credit to Vandals, they are a dogged and resilient side and nicked it at the end," he said. "We were leading on 70 minutes and looked like we had control but we gifted them a couple of tries and then they won it in the last five minutes when our captain was in the sin-bin.

"We got sucked into Weybridge's game plan but we are intelligent enough chaps that we should have been flexible enough to see that and change our patterns of play, but it wasn't to be."

JEWELLERY and cash were stolen during a burglary in Honeycrock Lane, Redhill.

Police investigating the break-in on January 15 at around 6.15pm have released CCTV footage showing three men with their faces covered approaching the house via the driveway.

The group forced entry through the back door. One they committed the burglary, they left in the direction of the A23.

The day before the burglary occurred two men were seen to approach the same house and looked through the windows of the property.

Investigating Officer Colyn Thompson, said: "I am releasing the CCTV in the hope someone will be able to provide information vital to this investigation.

"Although I do not believe you will be able to identify the men from the images, if you saw a group of people wearing the same clothing acting suspiciously in the area you should still come forward and help us piece the details of the offence together.

"I would also ask anyone who saw the two men who visited the property the previous day to share this information with us."

Anyone who can assist with this investigation is urged to contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference 45150004125. Information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

CAN you help police find this man following "suspicious incidents" in the Horley area?

Officers are appealing to the public for help in tracing Stuart Grimshaw, 50, who they would like to speak with following a number of "suspicious incidents" in the Horley area over recent days.

Mr Grimshaw, of no fixed address, is believed to travel by bus and regularly frequents the Horley and Crawley areas. A number of officers are involved with the ongoing search.

Call 101 with information or 999 in an emergency.

THE two men in these photographs are being sought by police in connection with a fraud which took place at a petrol station in Epsom earlier this week.

The incident occurred at around 1.30pm on Tuesday (January 20) at the BP garage in Dorking Road.

The cashier was handed a £50 note and a distraction technique was used to obtain more change from the member of staff. It is believed the offence is linked to another incident which occurred at a nearby pub earlier the same day.

Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference 45150005334.

Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

REIGATE College students proved they were more than the sum of their parts when they entered a national maths challenge.

More than 30 students at the school in Castlefield Road took part in the UK Mathematics Trust Maths Challenge.

Their results – which included 32 gold, silver and bronze certificates – placed them among the top mathematicians in the country.

The "senior challenge", which the college's lower and upper sixth form students took part in, involved answering 25 multiple choice questions in 90 minutes and was sat in school under exam conditions.

The top 60 per cent of students who took the test were issued with gold, silver or bronze certificates, with three times as many bronze certificates issued as gold ones.

The very best students were then invited to take part in future rounds which could result in them representing their country at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Reigate student Jack Dale received a gold certificate; 15 others received silver certificates and 16 more earned bronze ones.

Maths teacher Simon King, who entered the students into the competition, said: "This competition requires students to apply their mathematical knowledge in a different way and approach questions in a more abstract manner and think outside the box.

"We entered a selection of lower and upper sixth students who are studying further maths and I'm extremely proud of the 32 students who were awarded a certificate."

In the last academic year more than 600,000 pupils from 4,000 schools have taken part in one of the challenges.

About 1,000 of the top scorers in the Senior Challenge will progress on to the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1. A further 2,000 are invited to take part in the "senior kangaroo" competition.

The Reigate students sat their exam on November 6 and received their results at the start of this term.

Jack Dale has been invited to take part in the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad.

Award-winners

Gold: Jack Dale

Silver: Bethany Arnell, Jonathan Bruce, Alex Chater, Harry Cornelius, Rory Crouch, Tatiana Glazkova, Jordon Graham, Cathal Hogan, Matthew Ives, Bailey Lawson, Sean Murrough, Luke Phillips, Guy Taylor, Kane Thomas-Mason and Sam Thompson.

Bronze: Zoe Brace, Edward Brown, James Farrar, Matthew Maher, Kaveet Mattausch, Sharon Mazor, Reuben Mulligan, Jordan Negri-Lennard, Patrick O'Connor, James Rabson, Adam Seabury, Aaron Walker, Tom Watson, Daniel Wood, Harry Woolford and Xinfang Xu.

THE couple behind a popular Reigate furniture store have opened a second showroom.

Woodstock Interiors in High Street has expanded with new premises in Church Street.

The firm, originally set up in 1999 with the opening of a store in Cheam, is run by husband and wife team Lisa and Jake Moram from Dorking. They've been a mainstay of the Reigate furniture scene for ten years.

But this is the year the pair have taken the decision to expand.

The new showroom, called Woodstock Sleep and Living which opened on Monday, is more bedroom focused than the High Street branch. It will also be run with the help of former customer Chris Clapham – who used to operate Reigate-based ACC Aviation – and his daughter Joanna.

Mrs Moram told the Mirror: "We are going into beds and bedroom furniture because we have been doing well in Reigate.

"It is an affluent area with lots of families, you couldn't be in a better town and we have got a good name for ourselves as we have been here for so long.

"Now we are trying to expand the brand. We are selling beds, mattresses, children and adult bedroom furniture and a selection of sofas."

Mrs Moram said the company's success was a result of its independence and customer service, as well as positive recommendations from existing customers.

She added that their reliability with deliveries was also popular, with Mr Moram delivering all the furniture himself.

She added: "My husband is very business minded, he's very hands on. That is one of the reasons it is so successful."

Mrs Moram said the store will be holding a grand opening in the near future, but has not yet confirmed a date.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD Smallfield schoolgirl with a rare medical condition is about to have her 60th blood transfusion.

Just 97 people in the UK have Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), a rare genetic condition which causes the bone marrow not to produce red blood cells – and only 1,200 people in the world have the condition.

Jo and Gordon Rose of Copse Close in Horley are the parents of Amie, who attends Redehall Preparatory School in Redehall Road, and are trying to raise awareness and money for research into DBA.

Their world was shattered when they were told that their six-week-old daughter was on the verge of a cardiac arrest, and needed an emergency blood transfusion.

Since then, Amie has had blood transfusions every four weeks, and it is a constant battle to make sure her body doesn't get overloaded with iron – which could make her vital organs shut down.

The next step is a bone marrow transplant, which may end the need for her to have regular blood transfusions – but she may have to wait two years before she is healthy enough to undergo the procedure.

Mrs Rose, 44, said: "At the moment, the real threat to Amie is overloading her body with iron as a side effect of the blood transfusions.

"She is due to have her 60th very soon, and at some point her body could turn around and say 'I can't deal with this anymore'. We don't know where we're going to be in five years. We're just trying to make the most of it.

"If you saw Amie lined up with the other children you wouldn't notice there was anything wrong. But we have to be careful because she has to wear a pump with a needle in her arm six days a week. "As she's getting older she's asking more questions, like why can't she join in PE with the other children?"

Mr and Mrs Rose are organising a black tie event in Copthorne in March to raise money towards research for the charity DBA UK.

Mrs Rose added: "We are very lucky that there is a specialist at St Mary's Hospital in London who deals with DBA.

"People come from all over Europe to see him. Even the doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital didn't know how to deal with Amie's condition, which shows you how rare it is.

"Because the condition affects so few people, there are no government grants or funding available.

"The cost for the research undertaken by DBA UK for one year is £60,000, so we're hoping people will come along and support the charity at the ball."

The Rose Charity Ball in Aid of DBA UK is taking place on March 7 at the Copthorne Effingham Hotel from 7pm. There will be live entertainment provided.

For bookings contact Jo or Gordon on 01293 825722 or e-mail roseball.dbauk@outlook.com

A MAN has been arrested following a number of suspicious incidents in Horley in recent days.

The man, aged 50, was arrested in Twickenham on Friday afternoon

Police advised the public to remain vigilant with regards to their personal safety at all times. 

A former Woldingham schoolgirl has lashed out at The Queen and the Prime Minister,

Louise Mensch, the former Conservative MP for Corby, tweeted her rage over human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia - after various heads of state issued their condolences at the death of King Abdullah.

In response to David Cameron being "deeply saddened" over the king's death - and flags being flown at half-mast over Buckingham Palace - Ms Mensch swore at the Prime Minister and The Queen.

She accused the Prime Minister of paying tribute to the King "who whipped women drivers."

THE owners of caravans currently parked in a Horley car park are being told to move on by police, it has been confirmed.

A Surrey Police spokesman said 20 vehicles are currently parked up in Consort Way East car park off Horley's High Street.

The land is owned by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.

The spokesman said: "Police are liasing with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to find a resolution.

"Notices requesting the vehicles vacate the premises are being issued tonight."

YOUNGSTERS cycling to a Banstead school will now be safer thanks to hi-viz vests donated by a radio station.

Warren Mead Junior School in Roundwood Way holds gold Bike It status with the charity Sustrans which promotes "green" ways to travel

Mrs Cook-Abbott of the school applied to LBC Radio's Brighter Rider Initiative for some high-visibility vets to hand out to students and was rewarded with a selection of vests.

Head teacher Sandra Cunningham said: "We are pleased we can cycle safely with these luminous vests which improve our visibility."

A NATIONAL maritime care home has launched a big refurbishment, and its 150th anniversary celebrations.

The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society, which has a home in Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead, has provided nursing care support to elderly and disabled seafarers, their widows and dependants ever since Victorian times.

The Mayor of Reigate and Banstead Cllr David Pay 'cut the turf' on January 8 to mark the start of the home's major revamp. The work will include the provision of a day room with a balcony, and an extended kitchen.

The home already includes a specialist dementia annexe for residents living with the condition, as well as sheltered housing for independent living.

Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt, the society's chief executive, said: "To be a part of the society's 150th anniversary year is something very special."

He added: "It's an excellent opportunity to share with the public the achievements and rich history of the society, and of course look forward to the next 150 years."

MORE than £5 million has been invested in local communities as a result of developers being granted planning permission.

The money, given to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council over the past five years, has been spent on boosting facilities in areas set to be affected by newly-approved planning applications.

Neighbouring Tandridge District Council has received £124,500 in the same period, similarly to improve amenities or to spend on community projects.

The cash comes from Section 106 agreements, which are negotiated between developers and councils to help make new homes schemes more attractive to communities.

A total of 103 new building schemes resulted in cash injections for the Reigate and Banstead borough from April 2010.

The total amount the council received in that time was £5,483,400 – the largest contribution of £1,938,200 was made within the last year.

Matthew Pendlebury, the council's customer services technical officer, said: "We have spent £915,000 [of this money] on youth facilities, bus shelters, play areas, cycle racks, community facilities and affordable housing.

"And £3,921,900 has been passed onto Surrey County Council, for whom we collect Section 106 money."

Among the high-profile schemes which have benefited from the cash is the ongoing project to install a two-way road scheme in Redhill town centre.

Meanwhile Tandridge District Council has benefited from £124,500 in the same five-year period, given as a result of five developments.

These development projects are at the former Fairview Industrial Estate in Hurst Green; the old adult education/social services buildings off Croydon Road in Caterham; in Dormansland High Street; off Felcourt Road in Felcourt; and the Occasionally Yours site in Lingfield Common Road, Lingfield.

The financial spin-off from the 172-home Fairview development, for instance, has seen a replacement skate park provided off Mill Lane in Hurst Green.

In total, Tandridge Council, or Surrey County Council, have paid out £269,440 towards local projects and amenities over the five-year period.

It has been spent on projects such as providing play areas, education facilities, traffic claming measures, ground maintenance and travel vouchers.

A spokeswoman for Tandridge council explained: "The differences between our receipts (£124,500) and expenditure (£269,440) is because we will have received money in earlier years which may not have been spent either until later.

"For example, we might receive £500,000 for new educational facilities in 2008, but it may not have been transferred to Surrey County Council until 2011."

A NURSERY has been given a damning Ofsted rating for, among other things, not blocking access to strangers.

The Wise Owls Nursery, at Warlingham Rugby Club off Limpsfield Road, was given an "inadequate" rating following an inspection last month.

Fewer than one in every 14 nurseries in the country receive this grade, which is the lowest issued by Ofsted.

The inspection concluded the nursery "does not maintain the premises securely to prevent unauthorised access by adults who had not been vetted".

But the nursery's operators insist this refers to an isolated incident – and the premises has since been made thoroughly secure.

The "inadequate" rating means the nursery requires "significant improvement", with regular monitoring and a further inspection due this summer.

Overall, Ofsted inspectors concluded that:

The premises were not kept secure to protect children from unauthorised people entering the nursery.

Staff lacked understanding about safeguarding.

Supervision of employees was weak, so under-performance was not being tackled.

During creative art and design activities employees over-directed children, hindering their self-expression.

On the plus side the inspection team praised the positive partnerships nursery staff form with parents.

Mary Marsden, the nursery's manager, said she was "devastated" by the findings.

She added: "I'm not very happy.

"Building work was going on while Ofsted were here. A workman was gaining access by a side entrance to use the toilet."

Immediately after the inspection, she said, three locks were installed to ensure access was limited to staff members.

The 27-child nursery has been at the rugby club since 2006.

She said parents there "could not believe" Ofsted's negative findings.

Staff will attend safeguarding courses, she added.

Figures compiled by Ofsted show that a mere 7 per cent of early years providers were awarded the lowest grade in the 12 months up to August 2013.

But this was still a significant rise on the 3 per cent level recorded during the previous 12 months.

A WEEK after their mother died, four grieving sons have been told they face eviction from their home of 40 years.

The news has appalled friends and neighbours, who have urged Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene.

It follows the death on January 10 of Shirley Lugton, 78, who lived in Granville Road, Oxted.

Eight days later her four sons, who still live at the property – three of whom have mild learning difficulties – were told they must leave within a month.

The letter from Tandridge District Council formally terminates their mother's tenancy on February 16, adding: "If you have not vacated by that time, the council may commence proceedings in court to gain possession."

The youngest son, Michael, 46, said: "This is heavy-handed to say the least.

"It's really upsetting so soon after our mother died. We have been model tenants and no problem to anyone. We are a family unit and don't want to be split up."

Long-standing family friend Dave Bishop, who lives in Tatsfield, agreed, saying: "This is a lovely, loving family.

"If they are split up there will be such awful consequences, and if it does happen it will certainly break their hearts.

"Fingers crossed that humanity can override bureaucracy and settle this problem of them being able to stay in the house where they have lived for most of their lives.

"At one time they lived next door to me in The Square, Tatsfield, and you never saw a happier family."

Mr Bishop has written to the likes of Mr Cameron, Ukip leader Nigel Farage and Surrey County Council leader David Hodge, asking them to use their influence to prevent the eviction.

Council spokeswoman Giuseppina Valenza replied: "When a tenant dies we have to follow a legal process to end the tenancy.

"We don't make a decision about any potential succession rights until we have ended the previous tenancy.

"When we serve a notice to end the previous tenancy, we start looking into whether we can allow other members of the family to remain in the home under the law and under our policies.

"A decision will only be made once all the supporting information from any interested parties has been received and our investigations concluded.

"If the remaining family members cannot remain in the property legally and need help to find alternative accommodation, we will offer advice and assistance."