A man from Battersea has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery on a cash in transit lorry in Epsom yesterday morning.

The man in his 40's was arrested in the early hours of this morning at an address in the Nine Elms area of Battersea.

The robbery took place at 10:30am when a cash delivery driver was threatened with what is believed to be a firearm outside the Co-op store in Tattenham Crescent.

The driver suffered facial injuries and was treated by South East Coast Air Ambulance.

After police had sealed off the area a car was found on a nearby street and police believe it is connected to the incident.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Oana King, said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the victim and those who witnessed it so I would appeal to anyone who has any information which may assist with the investigation to contact us as soon as possible as we need to catch the person responsible.

"We are still in the very early stages of the investigation so it is vital we gather as much information as possible on the offence and the offender and thank the public for their assistance and patience while we do this."

Anyone who has information on this incident is urged to contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference P13030242 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A BOOKKEEPER who fiddled nearly £100,000 from two businesses including a Staines company has walked free from court.

Amanda Winters, 45, stole nearly  £80,000 from Aquaneeds, a company which makes bathrooms for elderly and disabled people.

Her four year reign of fraud and theft contributed to one business going into liquidation, while another employer was forced to sell his home, his car and lay off staff to keep his business afloat after cash vanished.

Winters, of, Southwood Road, Farnborough, pleaded guilty on January 25 to two counts of theft and fraud and another charge of breach of a position of trust.

The divorced mother-of-two returned to Guildford Crown Court on Thursday (January 31) where she received a 14 month suspended jail sentence.

The court heard how Winters swiped £77,986 from Aquaneeds, in  Kingsbury Crescent, Staines, over a three year period whilst self employed as the firm's bookkeeper.

Martin Hooper, prosecuting, told the court how Aquaneeds boss Richard Caddle's suspicions were raised when the company credit card was used to make online purchases.

Mr Caddle also noticed various payments were being made from the company purportedly to various suppliers and contractors. 

Mr Hooper said the fraud caused Mr Caddle to suffer stress as he struggled to keep his business afloat amid initially unaccountable cash-flow problems.

He said: "He had to lay off staff and ended up taking out an overdraft of £50,000, he also borrowed money from his parents and family.

"He sold his car, his home simply to keep the business going. He said that he felt guilty. He had not taken a proper holiday for three years because he felt guilty for doing that when he owed people money."

The court heard Winters also stole cheques whilst working for Windsorian Accident Repair centre between January and December 2009.

She cashed 10 company cheques in her favour and made bank transfers to her own bank account totalling £20,487.

The company was forced into liquidation in July 2012, with company director Trevor Kirby blaming Winters' theft as a contributing factor to the collapse of his business.

Rachel Spealing, defending, said Winters was genuinely remorseful and "full of self loathing" over what she had done.

She said the process by which she took the money was unsophisticated and hardly made any attempt to hide what was going on.

Winters had become addicted to her offending and was unaware of the vast amount of money she had taken, she said.

The court heard Winters experienced financial problems when her marriage broke up but wanted to maintain the same standard of living she had come to enjoy. She wanted to offer her children luxuries she had been denied in her own childhood.

She needed the money to help fund a university education and travel experiences for her children, the court heard.

Winters, who remains employed as a bookkeeper, has said she is in the process of selling her home to repay the stolen money.

Judge Suzan Matthews told Winters: "That company going under in this day and age changed other people's lives. There is absolutely no doubt that your dishonesty and your theft has contributed to that. It was not a victimless crime in any sense of the word."

But in sentencing, Judge Matthews took into account Winters' emotional problems and the remorse shown for her crimes.

She was handed a 14-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. She was ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work and was placed on a 12 month supervision order.

A DEDICATED woman from Fetcham has raised money for three charities by swimming 75 lengths to mark her 75th birthday.

Janet Baker completed the challenge in 1 hour 50 minutes at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, raising an impressive £2,282 to split between ME Research UK, the Surrey Wildlife Trust's Nower Wood project and the Friends of Teazle Wood.

Mrs Baker said: "I did it last Sunday afternoon and I was pleased because as it was snowing we had the pool almost to ourselves.

"My daughter came along and counted my lengths and we both agreed we had done the right amount."

The Drive resident is a regular swimmer, completing around 40 lengths every week, and has swum her age every birthday since the age of 50.

What she was most impressed by, however, is how much she has been able to raise for charity.

"I am amazed, absolutely staggered," she said. "Quite a few people gave me £75 to split between the three charities, but this morning I received three cheques for £75 for each of them.

"It's absolutely mind-blowing how generous people have been."

So far she has raised £1,098 for ME Research UK, £804 for the Surrey Wildlife Trust and £487 for Friends of Teazle Wood.

Of the three, Mrs Baker said she felt particularly passionate about the cause of ME – myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome – as her daughter is a sufferer.

Mrs Baker said she enjoyed the day and was not particularly fazed by her lengthy swim, adding: "I felt fine, it was no problem.

"I had been working up to it so I didn't do it out of the blue.

"My family came along and afterwards we had a celebratory lunch. It was a good family day.

"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me."

To donate to the ME group, visit www.justgiving.com/JanetBakerME To donate to the Nower Wood project, visit www.justgiving.com/JanetBakerSWT

To donate to Teazle Wood, send a cheque to Janet Baker, 8 The Drive, Fetcham, Leatherhead, KT22 9EN.

THE name of a pilot who died aged 49 will live on, after a flying scholarship was established to honour his memory.

Nick Davidson, who died of cancer last year, has left a legacy that will ensure an aspiring young pilot can receive the full aviation training they need.

The training package towards a full private pilot's licence is worth £9,000.

Mr Davidson, who lived in Westhumble, near Dorking, was latterly a captain with British Airways.

His first aviation job was as a flying instructor with the Surrey and Kent Flying Club at Biggin Hill.

After this he flew night mail with Willow Air from Southend Airport before piloting City Flyer UK and Europe passenger services from Gatwick.

The Nick Davidson Memorial Flying Scholarship is offered in association with Biggin Hill Airport and the Surrey and Kent Flying Club.

Applications are open to men and women aged between 16 and 25 who aspire to a career as a commercial pilot or in civil aviation.

His long-standing flying friend Gary Merchant, a captain with Easyjet, first met Mr Davidson when he joined the Surrey and Kent Flying Club in 1990 to learn to fly and Nick was his instructor.

Mr Merchant said: "When Nick became terminally ill in 2011, he discussed with me the terms of his will.

"He wanted a positive action for the benefit of aviation to be created after his death.

"The idea of a worthwhile scholarship for a deserving young person was born. I have accepted the responsibility to nominate the most suitable candidate from applications received."

Mr Merchant said the winner of the scholarship would be a "highly motivated individual" who has already shown initiative and commitment to an aviation career.

As the flying training will take place at Biggin Hill, the candidates most likely to be selected will be from within a radius of 15 miles of the airfield.

Applicants should send in their CV, together with a covering letter explaining why they should be granted the scholarship, to Sally Powell, PA to Managing Director, Biggin Hill Airport Ltd, Passenger Terminal, Biggin Hill Airport, Bromley TN16 3BH.

Mark the envelope "Nick Davidson Memorial Flying Scholarship".

The closing date is February 28.

OVERWHELMING support for East Surrey's first food bank has helped the charity behind it feed more than 160 people – and counting.

Loveworks, which established the food bank in Merstham in October, predicts need is only set to increase. Close to 1,000 food items were collected for people in need in just two weeks before Christmas, thanks to donations from Surrey Mirror readers, Raven Housing Trust and Reigate companies Morgan Sindall and Just Retirement. The food bank was so inundated, it ran out of storage room.

But that was when the Redhill and Reigate Round Table came to the rescue, offering to buy some new cupboards with £2,000 raised from Santa Claus's annual flying visit to Reigate's Priory Park last month, which the group organises.

Santander has also given Loveworks £5,000 towards the cost of getting a van to transport food.

"We have been overwhelmed by the response from the community to getting the food bank off the ground," said Loveworks founder Linda Sourris.

"The need for it is set to deepen as the welfare reform changes kick in from April and the project offers a simple way for anyone to help out.

"It's a simple question of those who can afford to buy a few extra items, donating them to people in their community who are in such dire straits that they can't afford to buy shopping."

She said that, particularly in the recent freezing weather, people are forced to choose between eating and heating their homes, adding: "People are struggling economically, and they can't have both."

The food bank has so far provided food parcels to 163 people.

Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to an event on Monday, February 11 at 7pm, upstairs in Urban Kitchen, Church Street, Reigate.

For more information about the charity, visit www.loveworks.org.uk

A MOBILE phone provider has apologised to residents in Box Hill after customers were left without a signal for more than two months.

Sarnia Poat, of Headley Heath Approach, told the Advertiser she had spent many hours on the phone complaining to Orange since access to its network disappeared in mid-November.

The 62-year-old retired secretary said: "I need my phone and I'm worried to leave the house without it because I've got heart and breathing problems.

"This has made me housebound and I haven't wanted to go anywhere by myself.

"Orange have made lots of excuses and it costs you an awful lot of money to get through to them. At times I have been on hold for more than an hour."

Retired chauffeur Dave Collier, of Warren Park, said the lack of signal had left him stranded when his car broke down at Headley last week.

The 73-year-old said: "I had to flag another gentleman down and borrow his mobile. If I hadn't done that I would probably still be sitting there. There's quite a few people up here who have been having the same problems. Orange still owes us money and apparently there's no way of getting it back.

"When you ring them you can't get through. I think it's terrible."

Gary Ayling, owner of Boxhill Country Stores in Box Hill Road, said many of his customers had complained about the problem.

He said: "It's affecting everybody who is on Orange up here.

"Quite a lot of people tell me they have switched to Vodafone because Orange just doesn't work."

Mrs Poat said she had been told she would not be refunded her £25 of unused pay-as-you-go credit or be compensated for expensive calls to Orange customer services department.

"They're insisting the only way I can get that money back is to use my mobile," she said. "But I can't use it.

"I told them, 'Orange does not work on Box Hill any more', and they said, 'Yes we know, but you could use it somewhere else'."

She added: "They have been telling me the problem was the mast in either Brockham or Betchworth and it was because of being joined to T-Mobile and it was going to be fixed. Then about two weeks ago I was told they weren't actually repairing the mast and in fact it wasn't there any more because they have taken it out."

A spokesman for Orange's parent company EE said: "We have identified a technical error, and we're working to fix the problem and return coverage to customers as quickly as possible.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers."

RICHARD BRADY says "what will be will be" as the Ryman League investigate the incident which saw a wall collapse at Leatherhead's Fetcham Grove ground on Saturday.

The Tanners' match with Dulwich Hamlet was abandoned with 12 minutes remaining after a section of wall behind a goal collapsed during the away fans' celebration of Dulwich's second goal.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident, but the referee took the decision to abandon the game to safeguard both the players and spectators.

And now, the Ryman League are investigating the incident, with the matter set to be discussed at the monthly board meeting tonight (Thursday).

Leatherhead Football Club chairman, Peter Ashdown, issued a statement earlier this week stating that the club was relieved no one was seriously injured in the incident and that the club would cooperate fully with the league's investigation. It read: "It is not our policy to apportion blame, but we are pleased to report that nobody was injured when a section of the wall in front of the terracing collapsed whilst Dulwich Hamlet supporters were celebrating their second goal."

A decision on whether the game is to be replayed or not is expected in due course and the Tanners boss said what will be will be in terms of their decision.

"It is an unfortunate incident," he said.

"Fortunately no one was seriously injured and that is the important thing.

"We don't know what will happen now and what will be will be.

"I think the smart money would be on a replay - who knows what might have happened in the remainder of the game, we know what happened with Kev Terry when we played them before.

"It is up to the powers that be though."

Brady added that the club was also looking into the incident in terms of health and safety for future games, although he said he was keen to focus on his side's own on-pitch matters.

He said: "We will write that one into the scrapbooks and we have Maidstone away on Saturday, which we have to now focus on and prepare for.

"We are looking forward to that one and playing in front of a big crowd.

"I don't think we deserved to lose the game at home against them and we certainly won't need any extra motivation.

"They will be the favourites at home on their 4G pitch and they are a strong side, but we will have a game plan for it.

"Playing against Maidstone and Dulwich are the sorts of games that semi-professional players want to play in and it will be good to play in front of a big crowd."

Brady added that the Tanners, who saw their Surrey Senior Cup clash with Lingfield postponed on Tuesday, would be going into the game with a virtually fully fit squad to choose from.

A VICAR who suffered a "catastrophic" illness which left him partially paralysed has been appointed to a key new position.

The Reverend Tim Goode, who has to walk with crutches following his near-death experience 19 years ago, is the new Southwark Diocesan Disability Advisor.

He was offered the post by the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, and accepted last week.

It comes in addition to the roles he has held since last summer as vicar of both St Luke's in Whyteleafe Hill, Whyteleafe, and St Peter and St Paul Church in Rook Lane, Chaldon.

It sparks from an episode back in 1994 when he fell seriously ill at a happy time in his life, when he was not long married, and had just become head of music at Homefield Preparatory School in Sutton. Mr Goode recalled: "It was catastrophic at the time.

"Life was great. I was 26, I had got married only the year before

"Then I developed a cancerous tumour in my neck. It was so unexpected – and its effects nearly killed me.

"I spent months in hospital, during which I contracted double pneumonia."

It left him partially paralysed from the waist down.

A vicar's son, he said his faith had wavered in his early adulthood. But his illness made him think again.

He said: "I used to ask 'why me'?

"But so many people experience suffering – Jesus certainly did – and that realisation freed me from being a victim.

"I became much more at peace with myself."

A former schoolteacher, he was formerly a curate at Croydon Minster (formerly Croydon Parish Church), for the past three years.

Mr Goode, 43, is married to Bernie, who is head of science at Wimbledon High School.

He added: "The combination of my dog collar and crutches will certainly make me very distinctive.

"The dog collar has always given me the opportunity of a 'way in' to talk to people.

"This new post should provide a fascinating and stimulating addition to my role as parish priest, especially as it will involve occasionally visiting parishes diocese-wide as well as being the port of call for all things that encompass disability."

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, churches must carry out access audits and identify areas for improvement, including installing induction loops for hearing aids, large-print service books, clear signs and structural changes such as providing ramps and disabled toilets.

THE Eagles had another convincing win over a strong London Cornish team on Saturday.

Cornish, who are chasing the Eagles in London Two South West, started off well. They made good ground through the forwards and forced a penalty for offside, but the penalty kick drifted wide in the wind.

An excellent dropout from Eagles' number ten, Brian Collins, went deep and Cornish sought to run the ball wide, making some ground before being well tackled by the Eagles cover defence.

The Eagles then turned the ball over and broke away, taking play up to the Cornish 22.

Rees wrong-footed the defence with a sharp dummy and crossed the whitewash for the opening five-pointer, converted by Collins for 7-0.

Play oscillated to and fro, with both sides making line breaks but both defences able to recover.

Richard Smith wrong-footed the Cornish defence as momentum swung to the Eagles and they took up camp in the visitors' 22.

Tom Ellinson and Mark Allen were prominent, earning the Eagles a penalty, but the Collins radar was slightly awry as the kick shaved the post.

John Squire gathered the restart and the Eagles attacked through the backs. Ed Ralph took the ball on, setting up a ruck from which the ball was recycled to Collins. His drop goal attempt was just wide and the momentum swung once again as Cornish dominated the next ten minutes.

Eagles defended well but conceded a penalty for not rolling away, which was slotted over to make the score 7-3.

The Eagles attacked the restart and forced a turnover. Jason Evans made 30 yards before off-loading to Ed Thornton, and Cornish were penalised for going over the top.

The Collins radar was now attuned and he made it 10-3 going into the break.

The second half began promisingly as the Eagles recovered the restart and, from this point on, what had been a relatively even contest became a try-fest for the Eagles. They scored five second-half tries, of which only one went unconverted.

Cornish replied with an unconverted try early on, a penalty after 20 minutes, and a converted try between the Eagles fifth and sixth tries but the Eagles scored an impressive 33 points in the second half.

The spectators had been treated to a fine game, expertly officiated by referee Georgina Crabb.

This weekend, the Eagles are at home to Purley John Fisher in the Surrey Cup, kick off 2.15pm.

The club will be showing the live Six Nations games between Wales and Ireland and then England and Scotland, with haggis available to purchase.

Eagles: Ellinson (T), Mullen, Allen, Prior, Stocker, Thornton, Young, Rees, Losardo, Collins, Smith (R), Evans, Ralph, Squire, Fee. Reps:,Cave, Parker, and Valente.

A CHEMIST whose application for a new pharmacy in Ashtead was rejected by NHS chiefs has asked for permission to open on a different site.

Abdool Kureeman, owner of Buckley Pharmacy in Barnett Wood Lane, wants to open a new pharmacy in The Street to serve residents in Upper Ashtead.

In June, Mr Kureeman submitted plans for a new independent chemist's at the site of the former Lloyds pharmacy – which closed in February – but it was rejected.

However, he has now submitted plans for a pharmacy at the vacant Barclay's Bank, and supporters are calling for residents to show their support by writing to the NHS.

Gillian Russell, of residents' group Save Ashtead's Village Environment (Save), which is supporting the application, said: "It is imperative that the main shopping road in Ashtead has a pharmacy.

"Since Lloyds pharmacy closed in February, Upper Ashtead people have had to travel to Craddocks Parade or Barnett Wood Lane for medication.

"We are talking about elderly people who have to travel unnecessary distances for important medicine. The whole village supports our agenda but we need them to vocalise it to the NHS."

The proposed pharmacy, which would be open during weekends, would provide parking for ten cars, three disabled bays, and a conference room for local charitable organisations to use.

Villager Mary Cummins, of Hillside Road, said: "Ashtead was served by three pharmacies for 20 years before Lloyds closed, so why should two be sufficient now, especially when you consider population inflation?

"I really think the NHS should be prioritising elderly people that rely on pharmacies for the majority of care they receive, and let's be honest, our village has a high proportion of older residents."

Mole Valley district councillor Chris Townsend, who represents Ashtead Park, said: "I think the new application is wonderful. It is sorely needed in the village and the community as a whole are totally in support.

"I have received many letters on the subject and I would hope that this time there was a favourable response.

"It's a different location and ticks more boxes than just a straight-forward pharmacy.

"This is a really hot issue in the village and I am right behind it."

NHS Surrey is accepting correspondence from villagers until February 24. To comment on the application, write to Surrey PCT, Cedar Court, Guildford Road, Leatherhead KT22 9AE or e-mail contactus@surreypct.nhs.uk

Letters on the former application will not be considered.

MOLE Valley police officer Jason Woods will face a series of endurance challenges over the next 12 months to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

PC Woods, neighbourhood specialist officer for Goodwyns, Chart Downs and North Holmwood, is part of the Iron Coppers team, a group of officers who are giving up their spare time to take on gruelling fitness tests throughout 2013.

He will start with an 80km cycling event in March on the South Downs, with his next big challenge coming in the form of the Tour of Flanders 140km bike race in Belgium at Easter.

He said: "I think everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer so it's a worthwhile cause, but it's a good challenge as well; something to work towards.

"Cycling is my strongest discipline these days and I have already started training hard with some cold and wet winter miles, with 200 miles under my belt for the first three weeks of the year."

PC Woods has also entered the Sussex Triathlon in July and is hoping to compete in the Southwater Triathlon in West Sussex in September, with the aim of raising at least £1,000 in total.

He is also awaiting the announcement of the Maxx Exposure South Downs Ride in September, which will be a gruelling 75-mile night ride.

He said: "I hope to be entering more events soon. These plans may include something crazy in the French Alps, possibly the Alpe d'Huez triathlon, so watch this space.

"I was plagued with injuries in 2012 so I am hoping 2013 will bring me luck.

"I am doing all this with a worn-out body from 30 years of football and numerous injuries, so let's see what happens."

Crawley-based officer Dale Taylor, who set up the Iron Coppers team, said: "This is a huge challenge for a group of police officers who work varying shift patterns and have to fit the training and events around the job.

"The charity is close to our hearts, with many of us experiencing family losses to cancer."

Visit www.ironcoppers.com to keep up to date on their progress, or www.justgiving.com/Jason-Woods1 to donate.

EAST Surrey MPs Crispin Blunt and Sam Gyimah have vowed to support a Bill legalising gay marriage when the issue is debated in Parliament next week.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill is due for its second reading on Tuesday, when it can be voted on for the first time – and Conservative MPs have been allowed a free vote on the controversial legislation.

The 56-page document lays out proposals to legalise gay marriage, but "safeguards" for religious organisations mean they could not be forced to perform ceremonies.

Reigate MP Crispin Blunt said the legislation was an important step in reaching equality for gay couples.

"The issue of gay marriage has to be dealt with at some point to make sure we're treating everyone equally and that's what this does," he said. "There are concerns within the Conservative party but we have a free vote with this issue and while some of my colleagues may vote against it, I think a majority will vote for it."

Under the proposed Bill, it would still be illegal for gay couples to wed within the Church of England. Mr Blunt says he wants the Bill to go further: "Our position should be to enable Church of England churches who want to conduct same sex marriages to do so," he said.

"The current Bill prevents it and if the Church changes its mind there'll need to be another Bill."

Sam Gyimah, MP for Tandridge and Horley, said he would support the Bill, but only if it included "clear safeguards to protect religious liberty".

He added: "Within the past 200 years there have been substantial changes governing who can get married, where a marriage can take place, and how a marriage can end. It is right that today, same-sex couples are entitled to the same legal protections and freedom from discrimination as opposite-sex couples. For me, this is not a question of politics; it is a social issue whose time has come."

East Surrey reverends were non-committal on the issue when approached by the Mirror.

Reverend Tim Goode of St Luke's Church in Whyteleafe said: "All Church of England clergy make a vow of obedience to our Bishop. That vow isn't just for things we agree with it can be for things we don't agree with. Whether I'm for or against, I'm duty bound by my oath of office to follow what my Bishop says."

Reverend Andrew Rumsey of St Mary's Church in Oxted said: "St Mary's Oxted and St Peter's Tandridge continue to welcome and serve all people within our communities."

NEWS that Caterham Cars is quitting its "spiritual home" in the town – within weeks – has been met with sadness across the community.

The iconic company, which was formed in the town 40 years ago, put Caterham on the world map last year by launching a Formula One team.

But it will leave the town for good in four weeks' time.

Its Station Avenue showroom and garage will be demolished to make way for 35 retirement flats – after a Bristol-based inspector granted planning permission last week, despite Tandridge District Council's objections.

And, the Mirror has learned, while the sports car firm is seeking a temporary new home and then a permanent new base in the summer, neither site will be in the area.

Croydon Road shopkeeper Lesley Thoma, the manager of Colourschemer Interiors, said of the imminent departure: "It's totally devastating news.

"I can't see the point of Caterham Cars keeping the name unless they have a presence here."

Caterham Valley parish councillor Mark Jones said: "Can you imagine the Caterham Formula One team being called Bangor or Romford?"

He accused Caterham Cars of "not giving a flying hoot about the town" when it did not publicly back a residents' fight last year against the flats plan.

Mr Jones added: "I'm fuming that a development that lacks amenities and has a lack of parking has been passed, and I'm sorry for the poor relatives of people that will end up living in that mess."

Jill Caudle, a district councillor in the town, suggested the firm could move to another vacant site locally, such as the former Rose and Young showroom in Croydon Road, or the former Pinewood Garage in Chaldon Road.

But Caterham Cars' spokesman Andy Bothwell ruled that out, saying: "We are in negotiations over other sites but none of them are in Caterham or Tandridge."

Shelley Filippi, manager of Church Walk Shopping Centre, said: "This will be a real shame for Caterham.

"Caterham Cars is such an iconic brand and raised the profile of the town.

"We have had the pleasure of working with its former marketing director Andy Noble over the years, when he brought Father Christmas into Church Walk, which drew large crowds to the town.

East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah said he was "thoroughly disappointed" with the news.

But he remained upbeat, adding: "Caterham is a fantastic place to live and can, with the right infrastructure such as superfast broadband, be a thriving hub for enterprise and business.

"The recent Google event I hosted in Caterham demonstrated there is huge appetite in the area.

"I will be working with the A Better Caterham group on other initiatives for the town."

But Woldingham resident John O'Brien struck a contrary note, saying: "I'm not surprised they are moving on.

"They grew from a kit car company and are now in Formula One racing. Why would they want to stay in a tip alongside a railway station?"

The flats are due to be built by developers Churchill Retirement Living by May 2014.

Caterham Cars was established in the town in 1973. Chart singer Chris Rea and former Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer are among those who have visited the Caterham showroom to buy vehicles.

OXTED'S Ross Warnes is targeting a special day for the hockey club as they bid to reach the semi-final of the England Hockey Board Men's Knockout Cup.

The O's are already as far as they have ever been in the competition as they prepare to take on Bromley & Beckenham in the quarter-final tomorrow (Sunday).

And having already beaten their local rivals 3-2 away in the league in November, the Oxted skipper said the team will travel to Kent full of confidence of progressing even further in the competition.

Warnes said: "This is the furthest we have got in a national competition and now we have a chance to try and go even further and maybe push for a national final, which would be very special.

"We go into it with some confidence and we will go and give it our best shot.

"They are our local rivals, but we always enjoy playing against them. They are never easy games and they are usually quite gritty, but it should be interesting."

And with the winners of the clash facing the victors of the all Premier Division match-up between Beeston and Hampstead & Westminster, Warnes says Oxted have a chance to put the club on the map.

"It is an exciting prospect," he said.

"We could make a bit of club history and at this stage of the competition, it certainly becomes more important as we are in with a shot of putting the club on the map."

However, Warnes is concerned Oxted are going into this week's double-header of league and cup matches slightly undercooked.

"We are straight back into it without too much training really," he said.

"Like everyone, we have struggled to train much outdoors due to the recent weather.

"We had a really positive indoor campaign, but as far as outdoor training goes, it has been difficult.

"But we will be training hard this week to get ourselves as ready as possible for the weekend."

First up is a trip to Old Loughtonians on Saturday and Warnes said Oxted are still targeting a top three finish in the Men's Conference East, with the side currently in sixth place - just two points behind Bromley & Beckenham in third.

"Our aim this season was to finish in the top three and I still think that is achievable.

"We are facing a resurgent Old Loughts side on Saturday - when we played them early on in the season they were struggling and we beat them 3-2.

"But they have since picked up a couple of players and have improved over the course of the season.

"We expect them to be stronger and we know it will be a tough game, but we are looking forward to it.

"And the league is so tight at the moment, if we get a few wins then we can push towards the top."

A STRING of crashes on a notorious icy road has prompted an outburst from Surrey County Council's leader.

David Hodge, who represents Warlingham, has condemned the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of drivers.

He blasted motorists who ignored "road closed" signs on Succombs Hill – only to come to grief on the icy hill.

When the Mirror visited the scene on Friday, it resembled a war zone.

An overturned car was near the summit, the wreckage of a Jaguar and a Vauxhall blocked the road, a motorbike had come to grief against a railway bridge and a BMW lay stranded close to the foot of the hill.

Mr Hodge said: "The police closed the top and bottom of the hill as soon as the bad weather set in for a good reason, because the road can be dangerous.

"Most people in the area know that when it has been snowing you do not go down Succombs Hill.

"They are very good and accepting of the situation, respecting that road. But a few drive erratically – its really annoying.

"If some motorists insist on driving down a road which police have closed off, insurance companies will no doubt ask questions."

Paul Lemmer, who lives in adjacent Stuart Road, said on Friday: "I can't believe anyone in their right mind would come down that steep hill in slippery conditions if they had any idea how bad it gets. Maybe they didn't know the area that well.

"The road is effectively completely blocked at the top and bottom. It's still too dodgy down there."

Peter Mahoney, of Southview Road, said: "Succombs Hill is narrow and steep, with a nasty little corner. So many car wing mirrors get hit and we have had several accidents there, particularly during winter."

In May 2011, an 80-year-old woman died on Succombs Hill after her Citroen smashed into a tree.

And the worst of a string of other incidents on the hill came in December 2010 when eight vehicles careered off the road and a car ended up nose-down in a ditch.

A MOTORCYCLIST who died on the M3 on Tuesday (January 29) has been formally identified as 57-year-old John Muller.
Muller, who was from Switzerland, was living in Sunbury-on-Thames.
He was killed when the blue Triumph motorbike he was riding was in collision with a black Audi on the southbound carriageway of the M3 between Junction 2 and Junction 3. 
A post mortem revealed he died from multiple injuries.  
An inquest has been opened and adjourned.