The owners will now have to pay damages to the youngsters’ families, who launched a group legal action against the children’s farm in Tiburstow Hill Road last June. 

The farm closed its gates on September 12, 2009, after the Health Protection Agency confirmed visitors had contracted the strain of bacteria from their business. 

At the height of the outbreak there were 93 confirmed cases. Of the 93, 27 children were admitted to hospital and 17 developed serious kidney problems. All are now thought to be on the road to recovery. 

The farm reopened again on October 26, 2009 and, after legal discussions, its owners admitted liability for the outbreak to the victims’ lawyers on Monday night. 

One of those hospitalised was three-year-old Jacob Ogle, of Blackthorn Road, Reigate, who suffered kidney failure following a visit in August 2009. 

His father Daniel said: “This is what we wanted all along. Pursuing a legal claim was not our main objective, we just wanted the farm to admit responsibility.” 

Jackie Flaherty, who owns Godstone Farm, said she could not comment on the legal aspects of the case but added: “In the last 15 months the children involved have never been far from our thoughts and prayers, particularly those who spent time in hospital.” 

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The crash on the A217 Reigate Road, Hookwood, occurred at about 6.15am on Tuesday near the junction with Mill Lane by the Black Horse pub, when a Royal Mail van was involved in a collision with a grey Ford Transit. 

Emergency services attended the scene and one man with serious head injuries, and another with neck injuries, were taken to East Surrey Hospital. 

The Mirror understands that the injuries suffered are not life-threatening. 

A concerned neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I don’t know what happened today, but something must be done here. 

“People who want to go to Reigate can’t be bothered to go around the roundabout just up the road, so when it’s quieter they try to do a U-turn. We need a roundabout here.” 

A Surrey County Council spokesman said it would cost too much to put in a new roundabout. 

No-one has been arrested in connection with the accident. 

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District councillors approved a “conditional sale agreement” on Tuesday night, meaning Morrisons will buy the Station Road/Curtis Road depot site if they get planning permission for a store. 

But a public consultation starts next month and three other supermarket options are also in the running – sites in Vincent Lane and St Martin’s Walk are being considered and an existing supermarket in High Street or South Street could be expanded. 

The council owns part of the Curtis Road site, so a provisional sale had to be agreed before it could be considered in the forthcoming consultation. The other possible sites are privately owned. 

And the Morrisons store, which could cover up to 65,000 sq ft, faces opposition from campaigners who say it would drive business out of the town centre and cause traffic chaos. 

Rob Sedgwick, a founding member of Dorking SOS, which opposes supermarket expansion, said: “Dorking is already too elongated, too spread out, and Curtis Road is just so far away from the rest of the shops.” 

He said the town is in need of a larger food store, but local traders need to benefit. 

“A lot of the smaller shops and independent traders might be put out of business,” he said. 

“Money spent in local shops is more likely to stay in the community.” 

Lib Dem councillor Stephen Cooksey said the store could have a “seriously damaging” effect on town-centre traders. 

He said: “It is an out-of-town site, which would attract shoppers to bring their cars directly to the site and leave after their shopping was complete.” 

The provisional deal with Morrisons was agreed by Mole Valley District Council’s executive committee on Tuesday. 

Speaking before the meeting, Councillor Ben Tatham, executive member for finance and assets, said: “People are going off to do their supermarket shopping somewhere else because there isn’t a supermarket that suits them in Dorking. 

“If it is purely a food supermarket, not a giant store selling everything, then there are very few shops in the High Street that will be affected.” 

Once the consultation is complete, the council will choose its favoured site and applications will be invited for that location. 

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The charges have been branded a “revenue-creation measure” by Surrey County Council. 

But borough councilors have even threatened a judicial review, where the courts would be asked to make a judgement on the council plan, to stop it going ahead. 

In a submission to the county council, leaked to the Mirror, the local councillors say the charges would be a cruel blow to struggling shops, which rely on short-term parking to bring in business. 

Councillor Graham Knight, who represents Horley East, said: “We are fighting this really hard. 

“We’re going to fight it tooth and nail. 

“We are going to do everything we have to do to make sure these charges don’t happen. 

“The businesses are suffering enough. 

“The last thing we need is to give people a reason not to come to Horley.” 

He said he thought the county council was paying “lip service” to the town centre’s regeneration. 

The proposal, which will see 587 free parking bays across the borough turned into charged spaces, including 113 in Horley, was revealed by the Mirror last week. 

Under the plans, free parking spaces in High Street, Victoria Road, Station Road, Russells Crescent and Station Approach, would disappear. 

Councillor Andrew Lynch, who represents Horley Central, believes the charges are in direct contrast with the county council’s apparent support of Horley’s regeneration. 

He added: “We have no intention of standing by and watching the county council impose these measures. 

“While it’s very commendable that they intend to introduce a zero increase in the council tax precept, what they’re doing is loading another tax on our residents and visitors. 

“They admit this is purely a revenue-creation measure and I have no idea how they can reconcile it with their commitment to the regeneration of the town centre.” 

Chairman of the chamber of commerce Peter Von Staerck branded the plans “ludicrous”. 

He said: “It’s just bringing Horley down on its knees even more. The businesses are struggling and it will financially cripple people coming into town.” 

To sign the petition No Parking Charges in Horley, visit www.gopetition.com/petition/41837.html 

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Police and fire crews were called to Old Horsham Road in Beare Green at around 12.20am on Sunday, where a silver Vauxhall Zafira had collided with a green Mini Cooper. 

The male driver and a female passenger of the Vauxhall were cut out of the vehicle by fire crews. A male passenger in the same car was able to get out unassisted. 

The two men received treatment for minor injuries but the woman, in her 60s, was taken to East Surrey Hospital by ambulance. 

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said she suffered suspected back and abdomen injuries, though her condition was not thought to be life-threatening. 

It is believed she also suffered a fractured hand and cracked ribs, while the male driver of the Vauxhall experienced pains in his chest. 

A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said: “Following the incident, it is believed the driver of the Mini decamped from the vehicle and witnesses reported seeing two people leaving the scene.” 

Two men, aged 19 and 20, both from Dorking, were arrested in connection with the incident. 

The 19-year-old was released with no further action and the 20-year-old was released on bail until March. 

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference number P11007585. 

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The transformation of Sussex Angling Supplies in Streatfield Road into a pair of one-bedroom flats were supported by the parish council at a meeting on Monday. 

Members said the conversion was a “good idea”. 

Planning documents say the business is “no longer commercially viable” and the building is in need of repair. 

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Health bosses have officially announced they are purchasing the new machine which will be based at Crawley Hospital but also used by patients sent from East Surrey Hospital. 

The machine, which checks for lumps to help early detection of cancer, was purchased by Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust and the Friends of Crawley Hospital. 

It will replace the current film machines at both Crawley and East Surrey, which are reaching the end of their working lives. 

The new X-ray machine will allow for an improved workflow, so more patients can be seen. 

The machine will allow for imaging and diagnosis in one day, which GPs say is of great benefit to patients. 

Adrian Ball, lead consultant for cancer services at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We receive a lot of positive feedback from patients and GPs about the one-stop breast cancer service at Crawley Hospital and this new machine will certainly enhance that service.” 

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The 100-year-old former town hall in Harestone Valley Road lies underused, in need of a facelift and with a “condemned” kitchen. 

Two groups are vying to take over the running of Soper Hall from the council – Caterham Baptist Church and a residents-led trust the Soper Hall Group. 

Tandridge District Council is due to decide on the fate of the building fate at its resources committee meeting on January 24. 

Whoever gets the green light can then press on and apply for National Lottery funding to upgrade the building, which the council would not be eligible for. 

Ahead of the key meeting, residents have been urged to go online and back the community-led bid. 

Chris Windridge, a member of the Soper Hall group, said: “Hopefully people will get behind us and support our community initiative.” 

Among potential uses his group has identified for the refurbished building are weddings, adult education classes, arts and crafts groups, mothers’ and toddlers’ sessions and Freemasons lodges. 

Visit www.soperhall.org.uk to register support for the group’s bid. 

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Dr Alistair Wells, from the Moat House Surgery, in Worsted Green, Merstham, said: “Drugs we prescribe are a lot more effective for long-term conditions like heart disease and diabetes, enabling people to live longer.” 

And Caterham’s Douglas Brunton Centre has put longevity down to keeping active. 

For the past 25 years, the centre off Park Road has been a home-from-home for thousands of over-55s. 

Centre manager Stella Banks said: “Several people who come to us are in their 90s. 

“I have seen the age of our clientele rise over recent years, as more and more elderly people keep active. Elderly people’s social lives are more varied and active than they were in the past.” 

Her centre offers diverse activities on weekdays ranging from darts and painting to playing with the Nintendo Wii and games afternoons. 

In the past, said Stella, bingo and quizzes was more the order of the day. 

However, the statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions which show people are living longer do present their own challenges, says Mike Ward, chief officer of Age Concern Merstham, Redhill and Reigate. 

And he is in a good position to know – his charity not only has a long-standing waiting list to become a member but it also provides a home-from-home and a lifeline for many pensioners across the borough throughout the year. 

Mr Ward, who has been at the helm of the group for four of its 55 years, said: “I’m pleased that people are living longer. It’s something we should all celebrate. 

“But residents living to a greater age means they need more caring for. 

“Those who are coming up to their 90th or 100th years are from the generation who would have fought in the last war to help preserve our freedom. 

“By and large they are young-at-heart, don’t moan and are quite happy with their lot.” 

The group has 280 members on its books, with the average age being 86. 

Among the range of services the charity provides are day centres across the borough, shopping trips, computing sessions, lunches and various activities, vigorous or otherwise. 

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Steve Kirk, owner of the revamped Village Inn on Coulsdon Road, Caterham, for the last five-and-a-half years, told the Mirror he is looking to move on, and invited anyone interested in taking the pub on to give him a call.

The news was greeted with delight by residents living nearby, who complain they have been subjected to a tirade of late-night threats, thuggery, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour by revellers coming out of the pub late at night.

Marc Downie, a 42-year-old Coulsdon Road resident and car dealer, told the Mirror: “I’ve been threatened with violence. I’ve had mirrors smashed off my car. I’ve had bottles thrown at my car and down the alley by my house.

“Lots of people just don’t park on this street at weekends, they know their car will get kicked or dented. My windscreen was smashed the night of the Germany vs England match.

“I’ve seen fights right outside my home – one guy was knocked out cold and left lying in the middle of the street.

“And one night I went to move my car, and a big guy literally threw himself over my bonnet, saying there was no need to move, he could guarantee my car wouldn’t get damaged if I bought him a pint.

“The police need to come here, and see what happens at the weekend. Everyone here will tell you the same story. I won’t be disappointed if the pub closes, or if someone turns it into a family pub.”

Mr Downie’s neighbour, a service engineer who only wanted to be known by his first name Mike for fear of reprisals, told a similar story.

He said: “We just don’t go out or near the pub at certain times. It’s dangerous. I’ve looked out of the bedroom window to see a man dancing on the roof of my wife’s car.

“My windscreen was broken in two places. We’ve had spikes driven into the wheels of cars parked up here. We need a police presence. I’ve seen no improvement in the last six months.

“I don’t want the pub to close, necessarily. But it would be good to have a family pub there.”

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “Complaints regarding anti-social behaviour near the Village Inn, Coulsdon Road, Caterham-on-the-Hill, were first raised at a neighbourhood panel meeting.

“Since then the Safer Neighbourhood Team have been working with the landlord to tackle the issues.

“Voluntary measures have been put in place and the situation has improved.”

Mr Kirk, 32, owner of the pub, declined to comment on incidents of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage, saying “It is not something I want to talk about.”

Pubs in decline – turn to page eight for more.

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