Parents to the rescue

Ian Ayres is fortunate to have loving and supporting parents who have backed him throughout the family's lengthy ordeal.

Robert and Vivienne Ayres provided the evidence that helped the case against him collapse so suddenly yesterday in court.

They also put up bail totalling £60,000 that enabled him to live at home with them in the long months leading up to his trial for attempted murder.

The case against him was provided by Neil Campbell, the man who has already admitted attacking Mr and Mrs Ayres violently at their home in East Preston, near Worthing.

But Mr and Mrs Ayres told the court Ian had not done anything to injure them while Campbell carried out his onslaught.

The court also heard that Ian had watched his parents being attacked, but had done nothing to help them.

Acquitting him, the judge said it appears Ian couldn't give a damn about what was happening to his parents.

Whether or not that's so, it's lucky for Ian they care much more than a damn about him.

True paradise

Millions of cinema-goers throughout the world will be watching Leonardo di Caprio's new blockbuster film The Beach, which is set in Thailand.

But only a few men, such as John Oade, from Ovingdean, Brighton, know what this island paradise is really like because he has lived there.

Now John is keen to return to the island of Koh Pha Ngan to relive some of his old memories.

He'd better hurry up, for legions of Leo's fans are also likely to descend on it, spoiling its remote charm.

Furry safe bet

Here's a funny way to raise funds for a cancer ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Ferocious ferrets will be racing on a special course at The Globe pub in Worthing while punters put bets on them.

Spectators are being advised to bring along bicycle clips in case one of these furry animals suddenly veers off course and darts up somebody's trouser legs.

In that case bets will be off - and so will the trousers.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.