IF it hadn't been for his quick-thinking friend, the owner of a Haslemere business could have been counting the cost of a massive theft.

Stuart Jaye, owner of the Land of Nod shop in Lower Street, said he counts himself lucky that a coincidence led to the thieves being caught in the act.

Just before 5 pm on Sunday, a former employee of Mr Jaye's was walking along Lower Street to meet friends. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been a manager at the shop for nearly five years before becoming an engineer. He noticed three men loading goods into the shop's van.

He said: "I saw them carrying stuff out to the van and a car parked next to it and thought it was rather strange because when I worked at the shop we never did any deliveries on Sundays."

Suspicious that the men were up to no good, he used his mobile phone to call Mr Jaye.

His suspicions were then concfirmed when Mr Jaye said the shop was meant to be locked up.

Within seconds, the man asked his friend, who had left his car nearby, to drive it round and block the thieves in.

The men, who were than joined by more friends who had also worked at the Land of Nod, called the police and watched until they arrived.

By the time police arrived, the thieves had made off on foot.

Mr Jaye said: "It's just amazing that my mate happened to be passing the shop at the right

Continued on Page 3WAVERLEY councillors were accused this week of having their "noses in the trough" when it comes to claiming expenses.

At a committee meeting on Tuesday, Michael Clark, the chairman of the independent remuneration panel which looked into Waverley allowances and expenses, levelled the accusation at a number of councillors who do the "smallest amount of work they can get away with".

His criticism came after leader of Waverley's Lib Dem opposition party Chris Slyfield commented that the panel's report implied each councillor's nose was in the trough.

Outraged members of the leisure overview and scrutiny committee fired back at Mr Clark, by claiming they should receive even more cash to compensate for the time they put into their role and to encourage members of the public to become councillors themselves.

These claims were made in spite of the report's recommendation that councillors should receive an average increase in their allowance of an inflation-busting 20 per cent, more than 10 times the rate of the rise in the cost of living.

The report also said they should be able to claim an Inland Revenue allowance to help pay for housework and gardening, as well as a free laptop or computer.

As the tension at the meeting mounted, calls were also made by councillor for Haslemere South, Ann Mugford, and councillor for Farnham Castle, Duncan Steel, for a special allowance to be given to the deputy leader of the council and to chairmen of the area development control committees responsible for planning matters.

But Mr Clark, who headed the expenses review carried out earlier this year, said his comments had been made on the back of direct feedback from the councillors themselves.

"You and your colleagues have submitted the information on which our report is based and you can choose to take it on board or reject it," said a patient Mr Clark.

Mr Clark continued: "I suspect that some councillors have taken advantage of the system and do have their noses in the trough."

He then reminded councillors that their work for the borough should be regarded as voluntary.

An angry Maureen Nyazai, councillor for Godalming South East, said the report should be thrown out.

Mrs Nyazai then commented: "Even if some councillors do have their noses in the troughs, these troughs are empty!"

Councillor for Haslemere North and Grayswood, James Mackie, then called into question the report's statement that all councillors receive a free laptop or computer, as well as a free line rental and internet charges.

Mr Mackie said: "When I requested a computer I was told by the officers that there were none left for distribution. I have never been offered a computer or laptop by the council."

It seems, replied Mrs Nyazai, that there was a first and second- class society in this chamber, where some councillors receive all and others receive nothing.

The committee unanimously agreed to recommend to Waverley's decision-making executive committee that the basic annual allowance for councillors be increased to £3,000 and the matter of special allowances for the deputy leader of the council, currently Pat Frost, and area development control committees be considered.

The executive committee will meet on Tuesday, November 5.