Summary

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates from across the West of England on Friday 10 March

  1. A cloudy and mild nightpublished at 22:00 GMT 10 March 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: West weather for 10 March

    That's all from BBC Local Live for the West country. 

    We're back on Monday from 7am with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel.

    Overnight it is going to remain mostly cloudy with some further patchy hill fog for higher ground.

    However, there will also be a few clear spells possible too and the winds will remain light. Minimum temperature: 8C.

    Have a good weekend.

  2. Seaman supports skaters' funding bidpublished at 21:49 GMT 10 March 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Skaters' funding appeal supported

    Former England football goalkeeper and Dancing on Ice star David Seaman has given his backing to a figure skating couple from Swindon.

    Zoe Jones and Chris Boyadji are Britain's number one pair and are off to the world championships in Helsinki this month.

    But their sport needs more funding to help them train and their appeal for help has been supported by David and his skating wife Frankie.

  3. Paralympic equestrian Anne Dunham OBE announces her retirement published at 21:42 GMT 10 March 2017

    Anne DunhamImage source, Getty Images

    Nineteen-time equestrian gold medallist, Anne Dunham OBE, has announced her retirement.

    Anne, who lives in Wirton near Devizes, has a career spanning more than 23 years.

    She first represented Great Britain at the Para-Equestrian Dressage World Championships in 1994, and has since gone on to win 32 championship medals for the country.

    Anne Dunham said: “This has been a hard decision, but I know it is right because I don’t want to start with a new horse and then have to part with him; Tokyo is four years away and I’ll be in my 70’s then and it’s time to give others a chance."

  4. Woman killed as car hit by trailerpublished at 21:35 GMT 10 March 2017

    A woman has been killed and another received serious head injuries after their car was struck by a trailer which came loose from a tractor.

    The incident happened in Bridgwater Road in Taunton, Somerset, shortly before 7pm on Thursday.

    One woman died at the scene while the other was taken to hospital with serious head injuries having been removed from the vehicle by firefighters.

    "Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident," a police spokesman said.

  5. Independent record shop celebrates 20th anniversarypublished at 21:28 GMT 10 March 2017

    Raves from the Grave

    In this age of digital downloads and streaming MP3s, independent record shops are few and far between.

    However, Raves from the Grave in Frome, Somerset, is bucking the trend and is today celebrating it's 20th anniversary.

    Raves from the Grave

    Owner Richard Churchyard said the shop has become "part of the furniture of Frome".

    "Twenty years ago I didn't think we would still be here today," he said.

    "I've always been into music but I thought it would last a year at most. But we're still going and I'm quite proud of it."

  6. Social care funding revealedpublished at 21:17 GMT 10 March 2017

    £5 notesImage source, Bank of England

    The amount each council will get for adult social care as part of the chancellor's budget announcement this week has been revealed.

    Somerset and Gloucestershire get the biggest share. They'll both receive more than £21m over the next three years.

    Bristol receives £17m and Bath and North East Somerset £5.8m.

  7. 'Arson' attack destroys school classroomspublished at 20:45 GMT 10 March 2017

    SchoolImage source, Google

    A school in Bristol has been "extensively damaged" in a suspected arson attack.

    Three classrooms were destroyed at Hareclive Academy, Hartcliffe, on Thursday evening.

    An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said it is believed the fire was started deliberately.

  8. Missing: Abdulkadir Mahamoud from Bristolpublished at 19:52 GMT 10 March 2017

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  9. Bath 'explores the opportunity' to tax touristspublished at 19:39 GMT 10 March 2017

    BathImage source, Getty Images

    A tax on tourists is being suggested by councillors in Bath as a way of raising money for the city. Hoteliers are upset about the idea.

    Councillor Charles Gerrish, from Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: "We are exploring the opportunity of initiating a tourist tax, which would be levied per night to visitors who stay overnight in the city."

    Mr Gerrish said the council was consulting with the government about a change in legislation because the current law means taxation could not be enforced on tourists.

    "In reality they [the government] were not particularly enthusiastic about another form of taxation," he said.

    Hotelier Laurence Beere said: "The idea of imposing a bed tax on hotels in Bath, it sounds really simple - 'it works in France, it works in Italy'.

    "I don't see how you can make it fair at all."

  10. New bridge to cross the Avon in Bathpublished at 18:58 GMT 10 March 2017

    BridgeImage source, Bath and North East Somerset Council

    Plans to build a new bridge over the River Avon in Bath have been given the go-ahead.

    It will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross between the northern and southern sites of the proposed Bath Quays development.

    The bridge is expected to be completed by spring 2018.

  11. Wigan Athletic v Bristol City previewpublished at 18:41 GMT 10 March 2017

    Bristol City v WiganImage source, Rex Features

    Bristol City are waiting on the fitness of midfielder Gary O'Neil, who has had an injection to treat pain on his knee.

    But the Robins' top scorer Tammy Abraham could make his return from a thigh injury after four weeks out.

    More on this story.

  12. The amazing things you find in rivers on the Somerset Levelspublished at 18:14 GMT 10 March 2017

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  13. Yeovil Town Ladies FC: Annie Heatherson signs new dealpublished at 17:44 GMT 10 March 2017

    Annie HeathersonImage source, The FA

    This will be Heatherson’s third season with Yeovil Town Ladies after putting through seven goals during its 2016 campaign.

    Having played in WSL 1 previously with Bristol Academy (now Bristol City Women), along with being in seven FA Cup finals she says she is ready for the big occasion of top flight football again.

    Quote Message

    This year is going to be a challenge for myself and for the club, but I am fully confident that we are all ready and prepared for it.

    Annie Heatherson

  14. Messages prompt concern for missing Gloucester manpublished at 17:21 GMT 10 March 2017

    Shane MarsdenImage source, Family photo

    Shane Marsden is thought to be in Thailand but police are worried for the 28-year-old after messages he sent to his family earlier in the week.

    He went there from New Zealand, where he had been since November.

    If you know where he is, contact Gloucestershire Police.

  15. 'Electoral fraud' case droppedpublished at 16:50 GMT 10 March 2017

    John Langley
    Image caption,

    Independent John Langley is also calling for the return of his deposit and election expenses

    An investigation into alleged electoral fraud made by a defeated mayoral candidate has been dropped by police.

    Independent John Langley argued senior officers at Bristol City Council had not been "open and transparent" over the council's financial situation.

    He said he would have run his election campaign differently if he had known the city had a £29m deficit.

    Avon and Somerset Police said a lack of evidence meant further investigation was not warranted.

    Read more on this story.

  16. Last Lynx flight lands at RNAS Yeoviltonpublished at 16:25 GMT 10 March 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: The helicopter is being retired from the Navy fleet after 41 years

    It's been a common sight in the sky above Somerset but now the last Lynx flight has landed at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton

    Flight 208, the last deployed Royal Navy Lynx flight, came following the successful completion of a nine-month operational deployment embarked in HMS Portland.

    Cdr Phil Richardson said the helicopters had operated from the oppressive mid-summer heat of the Arabian Gulf to the harsh conditions of the South Atlantic.

    Quote Message

    They have conducted lifesaving missions at extreme range, fired sea skua missiles for their continuation training and have delivered a most impressive level of aircraft serviceability of an aging yet hugely successful airframe.

    Cdr Phil Richardson , Commanding Officer of 815 NAS

  17. Hotelier concerned tourist tax could make Bath 'too expensive' published at 15:51 GMT 10 March 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Bath hotelier Laurence Beere tells of his concerns over a possible tourist tax

    Laurence Beere, who owns The Queensbury Hotel in Bath, is concerned the idea for a tax on tourists could put visitors off coming to the city because it would make Bath "too expensive".

    Bath and North East Somerset Council is exploring the concept as a way of raising money for Bath.

    It would mean a change in national legislation because the current law means taxation can't be enforced on tourists.

  18. Children found living in 'squalid conditions'published at 15:12 GMT 10 March 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Children found living in 'squalid conditions'

    Police in Bristol are urging people not to turn a blind eye to crime after finding children living in squalid conditions.

    It comes as officers executed a number of drug-related warrants across the city.

    Although no drugs were found in this house the parents later pleaded guilty to child neglect.

    Officers are urging people to contact them anonymously via Crimestoppers.

  19. Football: McChrystal leaves Bristol Roverspublished at 15:04 GMT 10 March 2017

    Mark McChrystalImage source, Rex Features

    Bristol Rovers defender Mark McChrystal has been released after four years with the League One club.

    The 32-year-old former Rovers captain helped them to back-to-back promotions in 2014-15 and 2015-16 after arriving on a free transfer in January 2013.

    He was one of six players told by manager Darrell Clarke that they were free to leave the club in January.

    The former Tranmere Rovers player made 114 league appearances for the Memorial Stadium outfit, including 107 starts.