Summary

TAPE_NUMBER: EF00/0725 IN_TIME: 18:55:55 LENGTH: 01:32 SOURCES: VNR RESTRICTIONS: Archive Footage 00.00-00.06 free for use until June 2001 FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: Voice and effects XFA A new British invention is set to revolutionise landmine clearance, making it safer and quicker. Bigfoot and Mineworm are two remote-controlled machines which work in tandem, detonating mines and turning over soil to remove all explosive charges. The devices have been undergoing exhaustive tests set by a Ministry of Defence agency. 00.02 Landmine clearance methods have changed little since World War Two. 00.06 But slow and perilous manual techniques like these could soon become a thing of the past, thanks to a British inventor, Bob French. 00.14 SOUNDBITE: (English) "I was watching the television news one night and saw Princes Diana in Africa, and she was with people who were poking sticks in the ground trying to find landmines. Well I was doing that thirty-five years ago, and I couldn't believe that people were still doing that, and why they weren't using mechanical devices. So I put my mind to it, and this is what we've come up with" SUPER CAPTION: Bob French, Inventor of Bigfoot and Mineworm, and Managing Director of Redbus Land Mine Disposal Systems 00.34 UPSOUND (English) "Move a little to the left otherwise you'll catch the sweeper on the right." 00.37 "Bigfoot" is a remote-controlled device using cameras on the machine to convey pictures to the operators. 00.44 Its feet systematically move along, destroying the mines in its path. The speed at which the machine covers ground far exceeds traditional methods. 00.54 A second device, known as "Mineworm", follows behind - removing all unexploded ordnance. Independent experts are very encouraged. 01.02 SOUNDBITE: (English) "In April we had an incident in a minefield above Sarajevo. Three children were injured by a fragmentation mine. One of the children was still alive, but by the time we had cleared our way, manually, in, the child had died. Something like Bigfoot could have got in there far quicker, and she might have had a chance of surviving" SUPER CAPTION: Pat Banks, Independent Mines Advisory Expert 01.22 UPSOUND EXPLOSION 01.24 The first models should be available for export by the end of the year. SHOTLIST: Southern England, Recent and File VNR Archive Footage 00.00 Close-up mine detector World War II 00.04 Wideshot soldiers clearing mines in World War II 00.06 Pull out from landmine clearer in Bosnia VNR 00.14 SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob French, Inventor of Bigfoot and Mineworm, and Managing Director of Redbus Land Mine Disposal Systems) 00.34 Close-up hands on remote control panel (00.34-37 UPSOUND voice directing remote controller) 00.36 Over shoulder of screen showing Bigfoot movements 00.39 Close-up screen 00.41 Wideshot Bigfoot in action 00.48 Close-up Bigfoot pad on dummy mine 00.54 Close-up Mineworm in action 00.57 Wideshot Mineworm 01.02 SOUNDBITE: (English) Pat Banks, Independent Mines Advisory Expert 01.22 UPSOUND explosion 01.24 Mine being detonated by Big Foot 01.32 VISION ENDS?