SURGICAL nurses are self-training as part on an initiative to allow professionals to continue learning and to develop their specialised skills in a changing environment.

The training activities are promoted by the professionals themselves who receive the necessary support and advice from the head of nursing at Torrevieja Hospital.

Juana Baez, surgical supervisor, said she is pleased with the commitment shown by staff: “Professionals understand that the higher the level of knowledge of each and every one of the group members the stronger the team. These activities have made them grow professionally and personally and our patients feel safer in a service that is traditionally the most unknown and feared.”

A GROUP of Russian travel agents leave the Costa Blanca after taking part in a familiarisation trip. The initiative, organised by Rushouse Tour travel agency, was planned to help strengthen their knowledge of the area and to show the tourist potential of the Costa Blanca.

During their first day they were welcomed to Torrevieja by Mayor Eduardo Dolon, along with Councillor for Tourism Luis Maria Pizana and Provincial vice-president for Tourism, Joaquin Albaladejo who indicated that through this proposal it will strengthen the knowledge that Russian citizens have of the Costa Blanca.

Following their tour of Torrevieja, they went on to visit Elche, Benidorm, Alicante and the Orihuela Costa.

MARBELLA Under 18s, featuring some of the triumphant Spanish squad, will be heading to The Nelson Mandela Stadium in Torrevieja for an under 18 Spanish Club Championship this weekend.

The 16 teams coming to Torrevieja to compete at the tournament will include: Valladolid, Madrid, Santboi Barcelona, Ciencias Sevilla, Marbella, Getxo Bilbao, Vigo Galicia, Cau Valencia, a nd La Vila.

The first stage of the tournament will be played on the three pitches at the Sports City in Torrevieja, before moving to the Nelson Mandela Stadium for the finals. 

Saturday games start at 9.00 am and go on until 2.00 pm, and Sunday games will start at 10.00 am, with the final to be played at 1.00 pm. 

Entry is free for everyone, and there will be a raffle for free rugby balls and shirts for children. Refreshments will be available at both grounds throughout the tournament.

Six current Marbella players represented Spain in the European Championships Division A, helping the team triumph and progress to the Elite division.

FRIENDS and work colleagues Gavin Boyd and Alistair Wilson have raised more than €600 by running from the Iceland store in Torrevieja to the La Marina branch, where they both work.

Store manager Alistair raised money for the BBC Children in Need appeal every year in Scotland and has regularly taken part in the Three Peaks Challenge.

This year, he roped in cashier Gavin to do the 18 kilometre run and raise money for the charity. 

They completed the route in 1 hour 41 minutes and are now considering taking part in the UK Race in May. They will continue raising money until the main Children in Need appeal in November.

A BRITISH man has been given a temporary reprieve as his planned eviction did not happen. Ken Hughes, aged 68, received notice from the courts that he was to be evicted from his ground floor apartment in Calle Pablo Picasso, El Chaparral, for failure to pay his mortgage.

As police and a judge were expected to arrive to take over the property and change the locks, anti-eviction protesters took to the streets and waited for several hours for the arrival of the authorities. But they never turned up.

Ken bought the property nine years ago when he moved to Spain from Birmingham. Three years later he borrowed €54,000 against the property from Banco Guipuzcoano, paying back €500 a month: “After four years I said I couldn't afford €500 a month and offered to pay €200 but the bank would not accept this. Shortly after, the bank closed and I had no way of getting in touch with the new owners and didn't pay anything.”

With an eviction order served Ken has had to deal with the fact he has lost his home: “I feel very sad at what has happened. It has been my home for nine years.” A new eviction date will now be set by the courts.

MORE THAN €2,500 has been raised from the Punta Marina Charity Fun Day, with money still coming in and being counted.

The crowds enjoyed an afternoon of live musical entertainment with singers and dancers as well as The Torrevieja Pipes and Drums who led a march by members of the Royal British Legion. There were stalls, raffles and a bouncy castle for children.

This was the fourth annual event in support of Help for Heroes organised by Lynne Zaber, but the first one to be held in the Punta Marina Commercial Centre. Speaking of the money raised, she said: “I am over the moon and so pleased with the turnout. I would like to thank all artists who gave their time and everyone who contributed.”

Lynne raises funds for Help for Heroes, which help members of the Armed Forces who have been injured in conflicts, as they “have been a huge support to my brother and several of his colleagues fighting in the Armed Forces, which is why I like to do my bit as thanks.”

All money raised goes directly to the charity to allow them to continue helping wounded service men and women to rehabilitate and rebuild their careers.

MORE people are dying as a result of Alzheimer's than ever before.

Four out of every hundred people in the Alicante province die as a result of the disease.

Figures from the National Statistics Institute show that in 2000, 212 people died from the disease but in 2011, that figure was up to 580. The population growth experienced in the last decade of 32 per cent, does not justify the increase of 173 per cent in the deaths from Alzheimer's.

The figures show that the degenerative disease of the nervous system is the only one to increase at a higher rate than the population growth.

Judy Ferris from the Association of Friends and Relatives of Alzheimer's Sufferers in Torrevieja (AFA) agrees with the findings. She said: “More and more people are becoming affected by Alzheimer's which is a huge problem as we only have so much room and our waiting list is growing with more than 60 people requesting help and assistance.”

AFA Torrevieja is a non-profit association created in 2004 to improve the life-quality of sufferers and relatives. “We work on the patient's need for stimulation to prolong the length and quality of their life. There is no cure for Alzheimer's. People die as a result of the disease stopping messages to the brain to keep the body working.”

AFA Torrevieja is one of 11 AFA centres across the Valencian Region and is supported by the town hall, but it still relies on public and NGO donations to cover the €400,000 it costs to run the centre each year.

OPERATION NEPTUNO II, launched by the Guardia Civil against the sale of drugs, has resulted in two arrests in Torrevieja.

A man and a women, both Spanish, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking offences and for the unlawful possession of ammunition.

One of those in custody had previously been arrested for similar crimes in April 2012. Police say a criminal gang had been re-activated and was once again distributing illegal substances.

Police carried out a search of a property and seized 19 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 216 grams of marijuana and 83 speed tablets as well as hashish and cocaine.

Precision scales allegedly used for the preparation, cutting and supply of drugs were also seized, as well as jewellery, electronic devices and a gun.

TORREVIEJA has honoured a local business for its environmental habits.

Comedus, in calle Unión Musical Torrevejense, which sells wines, oil, pickles and a range of preserves with the common denominator of quality, has received the Green Commerce environmental certification.

Although Torrevieja's Green Commerce project officially ended in September 2012, businesses in the city can still get the award after being assessed for their environmental practices.

The Green Commerce project is led by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce of Valencia and is aimed at involving small retailers to campaign against climate change, to promote the environmental responsibilities in the retail sector and to reduce energy consumption and waste production by means of simple measures.

POLICE have arrested an alleged drugs gang in Torrevieja.

Ten men and six women, all Spaniards and believed to be members of the same family, were arrested as part of 'Operation Sumo' for the alleged sale and distribution of drugs throughout the Vega Baja district.

Police launched an investigation last November following complaints from residents believing a drugs distribution gang was in operation in their neighbourhood.

Six simultaneous raids were carried out at the homes of those arrested by specialist agents and drug-sniffing dogs.

Amongst the items seized were 1,268 grams of cocaine, 400 grams of hashish, 64 grams of marijuana, equipment for weighing, cutting and bagging the drugs, large knives, a balaclava, five cars, .45 calibre cartridges, TV's, computers and mobile phone handsets.

One of those arrested has been arrested on two previous occasions in the last two years for similar crimes, while another is believed to be the head of the organisation which allegedly oversaw the sale of drugs at six points across the Vega Baja.

Those accused are charged with involvement in drug trafficking offences, conspiracy, illegal possession of ammunition and obstruction of justice.