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

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Tonight will be clear with a fresh breeze.

Minimum: 14C

Tomorrow will be more variable with some showers becoming increasingly likely along with a fresh breeze.

Masimum: 18C

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Jersey is suffering a "brain drain" with a "constant flow of talented people leaving to go to university" according to the chief executive of Digital Jersey.

Image source, Digital Jersey

Tony Moretta said equipping islanders with digital skills is one of the most important priorities for Jersey as it hopes to grow its technology sector.

He said: "We need more degree education and other upskilling options on-island. It’s why Digital Jersey is working tirelessly to create a year-round calendar of events focused on equipping people with those skills."

Mr Moretta said the Digital Jersey Hub, where local startups and members of the tech community can work, train and meet up has met with more than 3,000 people looking to re-train.

Jersey Evening Post

She may be best known for her Goldfinger but for one superfan Dame Shirley Bassey is the woman with the golden heart., external

BBC Radio Jersey

Workers have cleared sea lettuce weighing as much as 100 cars from St Aubin's Bay in time for the Jersey's Battle of Flowers.

They used machines including a tractor and trailer to remove more than a hundred tons from the beach between West Park and First Tower.

Martin Gautier from the Infrastructure department says a lot of work has gone in to making sure the beach is clear ahead of the big summer event.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

The highest percentage of call outs to the St John Emergency Ambulance Service (SJEAS) in Guernsey in 2018 has been for people falling over in their own home.

There are no specific numbers available but they are included in the more than 1,500 call outs to the service between February and July 2018.

A spokesman said: "We need to be an integral part of care in the community referring patients to specialist healthcare professionals and the falls team.”

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey Police will have a scam awareness team at the North and West summer shows to continue to educate people on ways they can protect themselves from email, text and phone scams.

Recently a number of local residents reported phone calls from Somalia that could have been fraudulent according to the island's police force.

David Mullins from Trading Standards in Guernsey says falling victim to a scam can have a devastating impact on people who lose their money.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Non-emergency medical calls to 999 could be redirected to GPs, pharmacists or other health professionals in the future according to Jersey's chief ambulance officer.

Peter Garvey said there were more 999 emergency calls in 2017 than at any point in the past five years.

He said in the UK they have other options such as the NHS 111 advice line to provide people with help. Mr Garvey says a similar system could work in Jersey.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

A "very poorly" grey seal pup called Seal was rescued from Chouet in Guernsey on Wednesday weighing just 7.2kg (16lb).

Image source, GSPCA

Geoff George from the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) says common seals are "extremely rare in Guernsey waters".

He said a pup sighting is even rarer which could explain why the rescued mammal is in such bad condition.

Seal is thought to be just a few weeks old and is being cared for by the Guernsey Animal Shelter.

Mr George said they "are very worried about Seal".

BBC Radio Guernsey

Islanders shouldn't be scared of using defibrillators according to the community resuscitation officer.

Mike Frome said only 10% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest in the community survive, and that can be due to their lack of access to a defibrillator.

He said you have to generally wait for an ambulance to bring a defibrillator and if it takes eight to 10 minutes for one to arrive, every minute your chance of survival decreases by 10%.

Guernsey's St John Emergency Ambulance Service said there were 38 call outs for cardiac arrest between February and July 2018.

Mr Frome said there were defibrillators in the community and the user only has to open it up and follow the instructions.

Guernsey Press

Travel Trident managing director Peter Wilcox said he was angry when Harbours’ staff put parking tickets on the cars of people travelling to Herm., external

BBC Radio Jersey

Emergency crews had to guide a man to safety from his smoke-filled St Helier flat, after the fire alarm failed to go off as the batteries had been removed.

A neighbour called the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service to report a smell of burning in the early hours.

The fire was caused by cooking that had been left unattended and the man in the flat was treated for breathing in smoke.

Jersey's Fire and Rescue Service reminded people of the dangers of taking batteries out of smoke detectors.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

The Constable of Trinity, Philip Le Sueur, is "dressed up and ready to go" for the Battle of Flowers parade despite the heavy rain delaying the departure of the floats from across the island.

He said the Trinity float is on the lay-by on the avenue waiting for the show to start "despite the organised chaos".

The parish constables, who act as father or mother of their parish, often appear in costume on the floats.

The parade is due to start at 13:00.

Image source, States of Jersey/Philip Le Sueur

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's chief ambulance officer says the island's service is under more pressure than the UK because it doesn't have as many resources.

Figures revealed, external there were more than 9,000 emergency calls to the ambulance service in 2017 - an average of almost 25 per day.

Peter Gavey said in the UK, patients have more options including other services to call on such as walking clinics and the NHS 111 helpline.

Jersey Evening Post

Islanders are being urged to join the fight against Asian hornets before a crucial month could lead to an increase in the population of the invasive insects., external

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Two Asian hornet nests were found in Guernsey on Wednesday. Both were at ground level and found in St Peter.

The first was a small nest in a hedgehog house close to another nest found in July in a Sycamore tree. The second was a larger nest found in brambles near a vinery.

Five nests have been found in Guernsey since January.

Experts say efforts will focus on the St Andrew's area where Asian hornets are regularly seen feeding on the sap of an oak tree.

People are being urged to be vigilant and report any potential sightings on their land and property including sheds and outhouses.

Image source, States of Guernsey

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey philanthropist who has given shopping vouchers to Jersey's over-70s every Christmas for the past 10 years is restricting who can claim the gift this year.

Businessman Sir David Kirch has decided to direct the money towards those who need it most and so only people on certain benefits will be able to claim their shopping vouchers in 2018.

He is also reducing the age people can claim from 70 to 65 and increasing the gift from £100 to £120 but it will only be available to people on income support.

The gifts will also be available twice a year to those who qualify, once at Christmas and again in May to mark Liberation Day.

Sir David says by excluding those not considered to be in need there will be more money to go around.

Elisa DaSilva
BBC Radio Jersey

Twitter

Victoria Avenue will not close until 11:00 after the departure time for floats was delayed due to heavy rain.

It was due to close from 09:30 until 19:00 to allow floats to arrive from across the island, but this was delayed with many floats not leaving until after 09:00.

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