Both Stokes and another man, Ryan Ali, from Bristol, have been found not guilty of affray.

Following the acquittal of cricketer Ben Stokes for affray, the Crown Prosecution gave the following statement: "We respect the jury’s decision".

Outside court, two cricket fans from Bristol - who were part of the crowd awaiting the outcome - said they were pleased with the verdicts.

Arthur Davis, 30, said: "He's a great player although not in form and maybe this will change that.

"I'd imagine it's been quite stressful but then after the weekend we might not need him."

And Javen Rahiman, 26, said: "I'm pretty pleased but it's not the best example he's setting, especially as the evening of the fight was after such a good victory.

"I hope it's a kick up the backside for him and he can focus more on the game now with no distractions."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that Ben Stokes will play this Saturday.

The Durham all-rounder, 27, was found not guilty of affray after a fracas between a group of men.

Clive Coleman
BBC legal correspondent

Under the Public Order Act 1986, 'a person is guilty of affray if he uses or threatens unlawful violence towards another and his conduct is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety'.

So, though it may seem odd, the offence is not designed to protect those involved in the violent incident itself.

Its purpose is to protect other people who are present.

That could include, for example, passers by in a street, those drinking in a pub, or fans at a football game when violence is threatened or actually occurs.

However, the 'person of reasonable firmness' need not actually be present at the scene.

This person is sometimes known as the 'hypothetical bystander' and it is he or she rather than the victim, who must fear for his or her personal safety.

Apart from the hypothetical bystander, there must be a 'victim' present against whom the violence is to be directed.

And there must be some conduct, beyond the use of words, which is threatening and directed towards a person or people.

Mere words are not enough.

Here's what Avon and Somerset Police has to say about the not guilty verdict:

“We carried out a thorough independent investigation into the events of 25 September before passing a comprehensive file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service which subsequently made the decision to charge.

“Having reviewed the evidence, the jury has concluded the actions of the defendants did not amount to affray and we respect this decision.”

DIY retailer Homebase has announced plans to close more than 40 stores, putting up to 1,500 jobs at risk.

Several stores in the West are among the 42 named for closure by the DIY chain Homebase. They include:

• Bristol
• Salisbury
• Swindon Drakes Way
• Swindon Orbital

Restructuring company Hilco, which bought the DIY chain for £1 in May, confirmed it was planning a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

It bought the struggling chain from Australia's Wesfarmers after its disastrous foray into the UK market.

The firm, which has 241 stores, said the affected outlets would be shut over the next 16 months.

Image source, Getty Images

England cricketer Ben Stokes has been found not guilty of affray at Bristol Crown Court.

Co-defendant Ryan Ali has also been found not guilty of the charge following a seven-day trial.

The jury deliberated for just two-and-a-half hours before clearing the 27-year-old Durham cricket all-rounder.

The two men were seen shaking hands before leaving court.

27-year-old Ryan Hale was acquitted last week.

Image source, PA

England Cricketer Ben Stokes, 27, has been found not guilty of affray.

He and co-defendant Ryan Ali, 28, denied affray outside a Bristol nightclub last September.

Both received a not guilty verdict.

Image source, PA

Data released by the BBC shows that success in delivering quotas for house building in the west is patchy.

All areas of the country have government-set targets for the building of new homes, in order to cope with growing housing demands.

The BBC Shared Data Unit looked at each local authority area. In the west, the figures show that Bristol needs to build the most new houses, according to government estimates. The authority is in the top 20, out of 333 councils nationally, in terms of need.

But it seems Cheltenham has achieved the lowest percentage of housing built in the west – building just 245 houses, or 46% of the number the government estimates is needed.

Stroud has also achieved a fairly low percentage - 429 houses, or 67% of their target.

The Cotswolds fair the best in the west region in percentage terms – 448 homes achieves 106% of its identified need.

Whereas Wiltshire has built the most homes – 1950 so far with more on the way.

West Somerset has only facilitated the building of 66 homes, but it's not clear what their total target was at this stage in time.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an incident in Trowbridge last week.At approximately 21:00 BST on 9 August, a black Ford Focus was driven along Balmoral Road towards a 44-year-old man, hitting him, and then making off towards Marston Road.

The victim was left with minor injuries.

Wiltshire Police said the arrested man is 21 and from Trowbridge.

He is currently in custody in Melksham for questioning.

This duck surprised swimmers at the Lido in Clifton, Bristol, when it decided to take a dip.

The venue says it takes non-payment of bills very seriously and the offender was promptly escorted from the premises.

The six-day case hears the cricketer was "drunk and enraged", which his defence called "nonsense".

Image source, PA

The jury in the trial of England Cricketer Ben Stokes, 27, at Bristol Crown Court, has been sent out to consider its verdicts.

It's the seventh day of the trial, which saw another man - Ryan Hale, 27 - acquitted last week.

The 27-year-old Durham all-rounder and co-defendant Ryan Ali, 28, are accused of fighting close to a Bristol nightclub.

The incident happened on Clifton Triangle in Bristol last September.

Both men deny the charge of affray.

Emails suggest meetings were taking place several months before the project was made public.