BBC Weather

A dry start to the night with clear spells. However, more cloud is expected to arrive later, and this may thicken enough to give some patches of light rain and drizzle.

Minimum temperature: 13 to 16C (55 to 61F).

The chance of a little early rain on Thursday, but, in general, there should be plenty of dry weather. Bright spells too with lengthening periods of sunshine in the afternoon.

Maximum temperature: 16 to 19C (61 to 66F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

BBC Radio Jersey

The head of a scrutiny panel looking at how Jersey's government is supporting the island's retailers hopes it will improve affordability in the island.

Deputy Kirsten Morel, who's behind the review, says he often hears retailers are struggling and he wants to find out why that is.

He hopes the review will help retailers as well as consumers in Jersey by finding out where the problems are in the industry.

Image source, States Assembly

Guernsey Press

States members should decide whether the 25mph speed limit should be extended on some major roads, the Home Affairs minister has said., external

BBC Radio Guernsey

Temporary traffic lights are being installed either side of the junction between Victoria Avenue and Les Banques, St Sampson.

The work to repair an electrical cable is expected to continue overnight.

Vehicles emerging from Victoria Avenue are unable to turn left, and must turn right towards the Red Lion.

A temporary 15mph speed limit is in place through the works area and the States is warning drivers to expect delays in the area.

Five nests of the bee-killing Asian hornet have been discovered in Guernsey.

A States of Guernsey spokesman said efforts to uncover more were focused on the parish of St Andrew after hornets were seen feeding on the sap of an oak tree and "squabbling" with each other at this food source, which suggested they are not from the same colony.

He said there had also been unconfirmed sightings in the Cobo area.

Image source, States of Guernsey

Islanders have been asked to report sightings , externaland to check land and property, including sheds and outhouses.

The States also recommended anyone looking to carry out cutting or clearance work should first check the vegetation for any signs of a nest.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's emergency services are dealing with a reported two-car crash at Route De Cobo, in the Castel.

The total number of Asian hornet nests found in Guernsey is now five, the States of Guernsey has said.

The two latest nests were found in St Pierre du Bois near the ground and have been treated.

The first was discovered in a hedgehog house not far from a nest in a Sycamore tree that treated in July.

The second nest, which was larger, was in brambles near a vinery, about 600m (2,000ft) from the other two.

A further nest in St Andrew’s is due to be treated soon, but is difficult to access as it is high up a tree.

Image source, States of Guernsey

Sightings of Asian hornets can be reported online, external or by calling 234567.

Alexandra Spiceley
BBC Radio Jersey, Reporter

Jersey's Health Department spent 17 times as much money on equipment for overweight patients so far in 2018 than it did in 2016.

The department spent £4,500 on mattresses and changing units in 2016. So far this year £78,900 has been spent.

A Freedom of Information request revealed this included hoists, traction bed frames, mattresses and standing aids.

A health spokesperson said the department had invested in more stock because it valued the well-being of staff and had a duty to ensure safe lifting using the right equipment.

Latest figures from the States of Jersey found about 47% of the island's population were overweight or obese, and a health spokesman said the percentage of obese patients was likely to be about the same as the island obesity figure.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Guernsey's minimum wage could be set at 60% of the island's median average wage if an idea set out in a consultation is adopted.

The consultation by the Employment and Social Security Committee, external is considering whether to increase the island's minimum wage to about £9.33 per hour by 2023, up from the current minimum wage of £7.55.

It is only a consultation but the committee said the outcome would help it develop proposals for the minimum wage in 2019 and further in the future.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

A burst pipe in the St Helier Grande Marche Co-operative store has resulted in the closure of the post office and pharmacy.

The post office inside the store will be closed until Thursday and the pharmacy is no longer accepting new prescriptions.

The company said on Twitter: "The rest of the store is open as normal. We apologise for the inconvenience, and hope to be up and running as usual tomorrow."

BBC Radio Jersey

Staff from Ports of Jersey will help with the excavation of an 18th Century shipwreck in Kent.

Equipment from the island will be used to find out more about the Dutch vessel Rooswijk that sank in January 1740 while en route to Indonesia.

Image source, HISTORIC ENGLAND/RCE

It is now a protected wreck site on the Goodwin Sands in Kent and is about 20m (65ft) under water.

Ports of Jersey invested in a piece of technology called a Mutltibeam Echosounder in 2016 that can be used to survey the sea bed. It has since been used in a number of projects not connected to the island.

Jamie Dollimore, marine operations manager, says its an exciting opportunity for the team to be involved in an internationally important project.

Jersey Evening Post

An international engineering firm has begun work this week on a States project to develop the resilience of Jersey’s coastal defences against the effects of climate change., external

Twitter

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Ports of Jersey has urged travellers to allow extra time when travelling to the airport or harbour on Thursday.

Dozens of floats and dancers will make their way up and down Jersey's Victoria Avenue on Thursday afternoon for the annual Battle of Flowers Parade.

LibertyBus, Jersey's only bus company, has also told passengers to prepare for delays due to the island's main road being closed for the parade most of the day.

Guernsey Press

A family with a range of learning difficulties and mental health problems could be made homeless at the end of this month following an inheritance pay-out which has left them ineligible for social housing., external

Jersey Evening Post

Islanders should expect food price hikes and even produce shortages in the coming months as the scorching hot weather and a lack of farm workers has punished the agricultural industry, a leading grower has warned., external

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Comments by a politician calling a housing estate in St Helier "a ghetto up a nasty hill" have been criticised by the constable of St Helier.

The Jersey Homes Trust is struggling to lease social housing properties for the over-55s in College Gardens, St Helier. It said it was because there was limited parking and it was up a hill.

Senator Sarah Ferguson, chairwoman of Age Concern Jersey, said: "I don't think young fit men and women at planning really understand what the senior generation would like."

She said the apartments were "up a nasty little hill" and mainly one-bedroomed with limited parking. She said putting people of the same age group together created "a ghetto".

Constable Simon Crowcroft said Senator Ferguson's comments were "innapropriate".

The over-55 rule was imposed on the development by the Planning Department and the minister, John Young, said he was considering removing the rule.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's ambulance service had more 999 calls in 2017 than at any other point in the past five years, the service's annual report has revealed.

In 2017, the service received 304 more calls in 2017 than in the previous year. That is 9,156 emergency calls in 2017, compared to 8,852 in 2016 and 8,402 in 2015.

The service said it was dealing with the increase in 999 calls by "providing alternative methods of care and avoiding the need to send double-crewed emergency ambulances" to every call-out.

Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's planning minister has asked the chairman of the Planning Committee, Deputy Russell Labey, to meet him and explain why Jersey Zoo was given permission for a new shop in the green-zone.

The conservation charity has been granted an exception to the island plan after more than 100 people - including Senators Ian Gorst and Lyndon Farnham - sent in letters of support for the application.

Deputy John Young has ruled out overturning the decision despite having the power to do so.

He said he wanted the next island plan to include tighter rules around building on protected land.