Dog owners who walked their canines in the surrounding woodland soon discovered that their dogs were unwell. During the Autumn months of 2009 and 2010 several dogs were reported as severely ill. In some cases, dogs did not recover. The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has launched an investigation into SCI in the hope of discovering the source and a cure. Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust, said: “We want to arm dog owners with as much information as we can. Unfortunately we are looking for a small needle in a very large hay stack so this could take some time.

“We weren’t aware of any cases in 2011, then suddenly at the start of September we had a flurry of reports. Vets and dog owners seem to be more aware of this illness this year and this has helped enormously with our investigation.

“Because dog owners, or vets treating the animals, have contacted us as soon as the dogs have been taken ill, we’ve been able to identify specific areas where these dogs have been walked. This is helping to focus our investigation on smaller geographical areas, hopefully, meaning that we’re getting closer to the culprit.”

SCI is not an overly distinctive illness, with the symptoms being vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. These are fairly common in many canine sicknesses, however what makes the illness distinctive is the speed of the onset of symptoms, they begin to show themselves after only a couple of hours after walking in the woodland.

Four of the woodlands that had been affected are Sandringham Estate, Thetford Forest in Norfolk, Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Although it is believed the disease is not unique to these areas and could be found in any woodland area.

The AHT is asking those who have walked their dogs at any of the four study sites since 1st August 2011, to complete and return their questionnaire regardless of whether your dog has been ill, as this information is invaluable to the investigation. Questionnaires, and further information, are available from the website: www.aht.org.uk. There is also a YouTube video with information.

Richard Newton, concluded that: “So far in 2011 we haven’t had any reports of dogs dying from SCI. We believe people are being vigilant and are seeking veterinary help at the first sign of illness – by doing this dog owners really are giving their pet the best chance of fighting SCI.”

For further information, please contact: Farrah Stevens, AHT press office, 01638 555602.

Lifesure is aware that man’s best friend is often associated with it’s Touring Caravan Insurance customers, we hope that nobody has suffered a loss of their four-legged companion in the last few years due to SCI when on holiday.

Nigel, Del, Sam and Gavin.

Lifesure are back at the country’s biggest Motorhome and Caravan Show being held this week at Birmingham’s NEC.

Already three lucky people have won a years free caravan insurance by visiting our stand and filling out a very quick form!

Tuesday; Mr Roberts from Clwyd won a years cover for his Abbey Vouge 04 worth £122.

Wednesday; Mrs Neal from Gloucestershire won a years free cover for her Elddis Avante 07 worth £134

Thursday; Mr Holmes from Berkshire won a years free cover for his Eriba worth £225.

If you’re visiting over the weekend and you fill in a form, you’ll have the opportunity to be another lucky winner!

Click on the video below to have a preview of some of the exhibitors at the show.

The Cambridge Arson Partnership has called together local housing associations (LHA’s), the police and fire service,  in order to tighten measures against the offenders. Fire Officer; Martin Boome of Godmanchester Police, lead a piloted arson investigation unit in Peterborough. The results of the new measures put in place have seen arson attacks halved from 662 – 313  from 2009  to 2011. What made this new piloted technique so successful was the increased volume of evidence and privileges awarded to Officer Boome, for his overall dedication to the service.

By monitoring the characteristics of the arsonists, the unit saw their success rate rise dramatically and the technique is likely to become widely used.Office Boome said;

“Our aim, first and foremost, is to prosecute people responsible for arson, as this acts as a deterrent to others.In the past, fire-fighters may have seen something important at a scene and it would get forgotten but now it gets recorded and could become evidence.”

The technique of the police and the fire department working together has proven to be a highly effective way of collating information that may have otherwise been lost in translation. This means that Cambridgeshire should see their number of arson attacks begin to drop rapidly over the next year.

Don’t allow your caravan to become part of the arson attacks statistic. Ensure that your possesions are covered with our Caravan Insurance. Or for a qoute on any of our other Personal Insurance categories, call us on 01480 402 460.

However, a staggering number of people in the UK do not insure their caravans correctly, by choosing the cheapest deal available they forget that their cover will be compromised as well as being unlikely to tailor the package to their requirements.

Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) had this to say on the matter of insurance policies;

“People just try and buy the cheapest possible. I think that is quite dangerous – they should get it based upon what is appropriate for them. …. Speak to an insurance broker, they can advise you on the kind of cover to have, the best choice available, and the choice of cover to choose from.”

There are several different types of policy for insuring your caravan, from the basic insurance over the winter months, to comprehensive cover, for overseas travel as well as the higher-end caravan (for which the correct insurance cover is an investment in the protection of your caravan).

Although it appears obvious that an insurance broker would suggest that insurance cover is a good investment to make, the number of caravan related incidents in the UK alone suggests that by leaving your caravan exposed, you are far more likely to incur costs that you will have to pay out for, as your cover is limited.

Lifesure can offer a variety of cover packages for your caravan, why not call and inquire about our Caravan Insurance on 01480 402 470, or search online on our website, you may even discover other insurance policies within our Personal Insurance, that you had not yet thought of.

Geoff Hodgson, chairman of the North east Tourism Advisory Board, said;

“The awards are a recognition of the best tourism businesses in the whole of the north east. The success of the shortlisted list of potential winners is an example that the tourism business not only invests in quality for the tourists but also enjoys significant financial benefits.”

The Tourism industry in the north east employs over 60,000 workers, turning over a profit of £4 billion each year with the figure appearing to be on the rise as the industry is going form strength to strength. The number of tourists traveling north for their holidays has steadily increased over the last decade and with the expenses of traveling abroad forever growing, it is no wonder that so much of the UK population would rather travel north on their time off and experience parts of our own country.

Now with their own multiple award winning Caravan Park, and their surrounding areas of outstanding natural beauty, the north looks to be the holiday destination for the UK indefinitely.

Lifesure is proud to offer a ‘no-obligations’ quote for your Caravan insurance whenever you choose. You can contact us online and search for your quote by clicking on the link, or you can call one of our professional members of staff on 01480 402 460.

The Sergeant believes that the perpetrators would have been experienced in the theft of large vehicles, as the tourer would have been precarious to extricate from the storage facility due to its unusual length. He is also convinced that there is more than one person responsible for its removal, as the person/s involved would have had to bypass three security devices along with an active alarm system. He said:

“I am sure you can imagine the delight it would bring the true owners to have their caravan restored to them.”

 Through posting pleas for information on the Internet, Sergeant O’Reilly is hopeful that either witnesses or evidence will be brought to light, bringing him closer to the discovery of the large tourer and the thieves involved. As the Internet is a means rarely utilised for witness appeal by the constabulary, the Sergeant is hopeful that his unusual move will encourage people to come forward with any information that may facilitate the case.

For more information on insuring your caravan, call Lifesure on 01480 402 460. Or for Caravan Insurance blogs and online information, follow the link.

“Our Eco-suite leaves only half the carbon footprint of a regular set-up.”

This Caravan is powered primarily by the sun. However, when those daylight hours of charge run out, the vehicle does not get any less green – with the backup fuel supply being of Australian soy bio-diesel and a methanol fuel battery for good measure – Kimberly Kampers has thought of pretty much everything (even the toilets are vacuum powered to eliminate the use of chemicals).

The caravan has the ability to run its own air-conditioning, cooking equipment and water heating, can power your laptops, Smartphone’s and iPods. In addition, by running 20% on bio-diesel, there is also a 35 % reduction in fuel costs.

Another great feature of this green-machine is the electric motored inflatable boat on the roof for days spent by the lake on a national park site, where outboard motors and generators are beginning to be unwelcome.

Camping grounds and holiday parks are introducing recycling programs, such as worm farms and alternative power sources, like the sustainable (and in the UK plentiful) wind turbines.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advisor/how-to-be-eco-friendly-on-holiday/story-e6frfqfr-1226129761042#ixzz1XpeMkbkZ

If you are considering being more economical with the money you spend on your Insurance, call Lifesure now on 01480 402 460, find out how much we could save you.

With 130 acres of woodland that won the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award,  red deer, red squirrels, badgers roaming free and a plethora of different pathways winding through the trees, the Skelwith Fold Caravan Park is definitely a place where you can be one with nature.

As well as all the amenities you would generally expect from a caravan park, such as electric hook up, a water supply,  on site toilets, washrooms and showers, the park also has an adventure playground for children of all ages, a village shop, a library and internet access. Claire Tupholme, a caravanner and visitor to the site had this to say:

“The area surrounding Skelwith Fold is stunningly beautiful and one visit to this immaculate park, quite simply isn’t enough, as there’s so much to see and do you will want to visit time and time again. You will need just one trip just to explore all that the park has to offer, as you will struggle to leave this peaceful haven, and another trip for when the call of The Lakes lures you.”

Name: Skelwith Fold Caravan Park

Address: Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0HX

Tel: 01539 432277

Web: www.skelwith.com

To stay: Pitches from £19.50 per night

To buy: Luxury caravan homes from £25,000 – £80,000

Open: 1 March – 15 November

For more information on caravan-related news, visit our blog. Or for a quick, hassle-free quote on your Caravan Insurance call us at Lifesure on 01480 402 460.

A new fashion has emerged highlighting how holiday makers are preferring to of travel ‘light’ with their  money, such as discovering Europe by road, with nothing but a trusty vehicle to drive and a caravan in tow. The concept is common to all those who own a caravan and the cost does not have to put a dent in your budget, with older models available for a staggeringly little cost.

An enjoyable route for any discerning traveller is the road trip to Croatia, via Slovenia, the Alps, Austria and Germany. With so many sights to see along the way, it is hard to keep the holiday within a fortnight.

Another clever method of travel if you do not already own a caravan or car, is to consider purchasing old, reliable models such as the old Volvo Estate that will keep going no matter what is thrown at it.

With so many destinations within Europe to choose from, and so many hidden gems along the way, it makes a luxury holiday seem a waste of money, as the experiences when travelling the road less taken is far more fruitful in its rewards and memories.

Considering renewal of your insurance? Call Lifesure on 01480 402 460 for a free quote that may just make your day. For Motor Insurance and Caravan Insurance follow the links.

The glorious gallery has already begun its tour of the UK on the 16^th of September, at the Ryedale Folk Museum in Yorkshire. The main purpose of the tour is to highlight, promote and popularise the works of art provided by the gallery’s 23 local artists. The works of art are provided by artists who work in all mediums including; painters, sculptors, felt-makers, ceramicists, print makers and even a blacksmith.

Stef Mitchell is the founding artist at Duckett and Jeffreys and will be present on the regional tour, said: “We aim to show artists that are brave, confident and imaginative.”

The promotion of up and coming talent as well as local talent, remaining undiscovered by the outer lying counties, will travel the country in style inside the quaint little Sprite. All originating from the Ryedale area, these artists have formed a tight knit community, with several appearing on location at the venues to meet, greet and inspire with their work. Sawmill Lane Studios in Helmsley, run by local artist Donna McCaullay, an educationalist, sculpture and painter, will feature seven of the touring artists, craft makers and designers. There are plans for artist lead public workshops.

The tour is set to stop at 11 venues around the country,  with the classic 1960’s Sprite featuring as an attraction. October 16th is when the show reaches its final stop-off at the ‘Inspired By’ Gallery in Danby.

If you are considering travelling to see the beautiful gallery in your own caravan, make sure that your Caravan Insurance is up to date, and don’t forget to check how much money we could save you at Lifesure when your insurance is up for renewal. Call us on 01480 402 460.