'Council tackles potholes' and 'unmasking Banksy'

News imageSteve Lazarides A picture taken from behind showing a man wearing white overalls, holding up a stencil onto a grey brick wall.Steve Lazarides
A photograph by Banksy's former agent is said to show the artist at work

Here's our weekly round-up of stories from across local websites in the West of England.

We have a daily roundup as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app.

What have been the big stories in the West this week?

Councillors have celebrated progress on filling potholes on roads in Bristol after rules for contractors were tightened up, despite severe weather creating a backlog of 800 pothole repairs on Bristol's roads, Bristol Live reported.

Burnham‑On‑Sea.com posted an article about the town council deciding whether to contribute funding towards a proposed new earth bund – or earth bank – along Burnham's lawns to deter travellers from setting up encampments there.

A council leader has apologised after a council mowing team mistakenly destroyed £6,000 worth of flowers planted by a team of community volunteers in St George Park, Bristol Live reported.

A new deadline has been set for the completion of an unopened £30m main road in Swindon - the Southern Connector road - which is supposed to be central to a nearby 8,000-home development, the Swindon Advertiser reported.

Top five local stories for the BBC in the West

Something longer to read

For three decades, Banksy has challenged authority, mocked consumer culture and transformed public spaces into poignant canvasses - while keeping his true identity hidden from the world.

His signature artworks often appear without warning, sparking global conversation, but the culprit quietly dodges the limelight.

Often described as "elusive" and "secretive" by the press, the "guerrilla street artist" is a hero to some and a vandal to others. But who is the man behind the stencils?

The debate has resurfaced after an investigation by Reuters claims to have finally unmasked the world's most famous street artist.

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