Headlines: Murder trial, illegal rave and cheese theft

The continuing trial of five people jointly accused of the murder of Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, has been in the headlines this week.

The boys died after being attacked outside Mason's home in Knowle West, Bristol, on 27 January.

On Tuesday, the alleged "getaway driver", Anthony Snook, 45, told Bristol Crown Court that he "did not know of any plan" to kill the boys.

Tristan Cork, from Bristol Live, reported on Thursday that the four teenagers accused of the boys' murders would not be giving evidence in the trial.

Bristol Live also covered the story of a burglar, who was jailed this week after attempting to evade police by swimming across a lake.

Reporter Toby Codd said Chad Lambert, 35, from Bristol, stole a bottle of wine from a shop in Eastville before discarding his clothing and bag in Eastville Park and swimming to a small island in the middle of the lake.

The fire service provided a boat for police to reach the island and arrest Lambert.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £154 in compensation by Bristol Magistrates' Court.

An illegal rave at the old Wickes building in Bristol caused a lot of interest on the Bristol Reddit thread.

Two people were arrested and two van loads of sound equipment were seized after the unlicensed music event in Ashton on 26 October.

Avon and Somerset Police said it understood the public's frustration that the music was not turned off until 09:00 GMT on Sunday, but said it did not have the officer numbers needed to bring the event to a close sooner.

Several posts reflected the idea that raves should be held in remote locations away from residential areas, to "benefit everyone - including the ravers".

Bath Rugby's Facebook post about Ted Hill's call-up to the England squad for their first test against New Zealand prompted lots of congratulations.

Many of the comments echo the sentiment posted by Adrian Crocker, who said: "It's about time he was given a chance. It's so well deserved and could not have happened to a nicer, more hard-working player."

Some incredible footage from Wiltshire Police of cars doing "doughnuts" around an island of people on an industrial estate in Swindon sparked a lot of engagement.

Somerset Live's Shannon Brown reported on the moment Milosz Sobiechowski, 22, "spiralled into a crash with parked cars and injured a bystander who sustained minor injuries".

PC Beales, roads policing officer, condemned the incident, adding: "Sobiechowski’s actions were incredibly dangerous and it is fortunate that there were no serious injuries."

Sobiechowski was this week given a 12-month driving ban and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work after the incident on 30 September 2023.

The theft of 22 tonnes of cheddar, worth more than £300,000, from London cheese specialist Neal's Yard Dairy, produced headlines for Somerset Live.

Regional content editor, Howard Lloyd, quoted Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy which had produced some of the stolen cheese, saying: "I was really concerned about what it was and the implications of it.

"What it does show, which I am amazed about, is the value people put on these amazing artisan foods."

Cheesemongers around the world have been urged to contact the dairy if they suspect they have been offered the stolen cheese.

Finally, the decorated stones found in Salisbury Cathedral which originate from Old Sarum - the original location of the cathedral before it moved in 1220 - have delighted the resident stone masons.

Head mason Lee Andrews said it was exciting to uncover the tool marks and moulding, which are "so well preserved in the mortar and (to see ) all that craftmanship which has been hidden away for 800 years"

A shelter is being planned for the stones to allow them to go on display in the cathedral.