Summary

  • Updates from across the West of England on Monday, 9 January 2017

  1. Tomorrow's weather for the West countrypublished at 22:00 GMT 9 January 2017

    Thanks for joining us today, we'll leave you with a look at tomorrow's weather for the West country.

    We'll be back from 7am tomorrow with more live updates. 

    Goodnight.

    Media caption,

    Watch: A glimpse at the forecast for tomorrow

  2. Druid to sue English Heritage over Stonehenge car parking chargespublished at 21:52 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: King Arthur Pendragon is taking English Heritage to court over car parking charges at Stonehenge

    A senior druid has been told he can take English Heritage to court over car parking charges at Stonehenge. 

    King Arthur Pendragon says it breaches his human rights to have to "pay to pray" at the stone circle for solstice events. 

    In a statement English Heritage says it's looking forward to presenting its full case at a later date.

  3. Puppies left in recycling box at woodspublished at 21:33 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: These three pups are now hoping for their happy ever after

    These three little pups were dumped in a recycling box in North Somerset woodland. 

    Luckily they were found by a dog out walking with its owner.

    They were rescued and taken to an animal sanctuary in Barrow Gurney.

    The puppies will soon be looking for their fairy tail ending of a new home!

  4. Points West 60: Amazing Bullimore rescue 20 years ago todaypublished at 21:15 GMT 9 January 2017

    "A little chocolate, water and sheer determination" - that's what kept Bristol yachtsman Tony Bullimore alive when his boat capsized. 

    Today's film from the Points West archives shows Tony being rescued 20 years ago after surviving for five days in the hull of his vessel.

    As the world watched and waited, rescuers worked tirelessly to locate his boat, with many fearing whether the sailor could survive.

    However, although he was suffering with mild hypothermia and dehydration Mr Bullimore was in great spirits and could barely believe they found him.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Tony Bullimore amazed the world when he was rescued 20 years ago today

    Points West is celebrating it's 60th anniversary this year so we're taking a look back at some of the news and events it has covered.

  5. The Bristol slam poet making a mark on the national stagepublished at 20:56 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Bristol man reaches semi-final of a national poetry slam contest

    This is Sven Stears, a performance poet from Bristol. He recently made it to the semi-final of a national poetry slam competition.

    These contests allow poets to perform their original work in front of an audience and get scored on it. 

  6. Care home call for clear-cut pet policiespublished at 20:30 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: The Blue Cross wants all care providers to have a 'pet policy'

    What do you do when a loved one needs to go in to a care home but has a beloved furry companion?

    Some have to take care of the pet themselves, or make the decision to take the animal to a shelter or give it up for adoption, but there are some care homes which allow pets.

    The Blue Cross would like all providers to have a clear-cut pet policy and better transparency on whether or not older people can take their pet to live with them and what should happen if circumstances change.

  7. Lines reopen after landslip but delays continuepublished at 20:11 GMT 9 January 2017

    The railway line affected by the boulder which fell during a landslip has now reopened.

    The mass of rock tumbled onto the line near Kemble in Gloucestershire on Monday.

    National Rail Enquiries has warned of cancellations, delays of up to 15 minutes or diversions until the end of the day.

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  8. Attempted murder charge after A36 crashpublished at 19:49 GMT 9 January 2017

    A man has been charged with attempted murder after a crash on the A36 in Wiltshire.

    Lukasz Jarosz, 34, from Wilton, near Salisbury, was arrested after the crash on Friday.

    A 13-year-old front seat passenger suffered a leg injury and remains in a stable condition in hospital.

    Mr Jarosz appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court where he was remanded in custody until 6 February. He denies the charge.

    The court heard the black Skoda he was driving collided with a Nissan van at the junction with an industrial estate by a railway bridge just outside Wilton.

    It is understood that he found his wife dead at the family home prior to the incident.

    The house is a crime scene while Wiltshire Police investigates the death, which is being treated as "unexplained".

  9. World Tap champions from the Westpublished at 19:13 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: See the champions rehearsing together

    Fifteen dancers from the West of England have helped the official UK Tap Team win more titles in the World Championships.

    The 42-strong team were among 1,800 dancers from over 19 countries to compete in the 2016 International Dance Organisation competition in Riesa, Germany.

    Eight of the champions are from Swindon, with another six from Bristol and Bath, and one dancer from Gloucester. 

    Quote Message

    This year was possibly the hardest competition I have ever seen, every year each country gets stronger. There were truly exceptional performances from around the world.

    Jo Scanlan, Head coach

  10. Pig sculptures to be installed across Gloucesterhirepublished at 18:44 GMT 9 January 2017

    Gloucestershire Old Spots pigImage source, Presser

    School children are being invited to design a sculpture of a Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig. 

    The best design will feature on a new sculpture trail of 40 pigs in Gloucester and across the county, in June, external. 

    It has been called the Henson Trail after Joe Henson who championed the rare breed.

    It follows the Scrumpty Trail of 20 giant egg cup sculptures which featured across the city, during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

  11. A429 reopened to traffic after lorry sheds load of stonepublished at 18:13 GMT 9 January 2017

    Crash scene

    A lorry carrying stone shed its load on to a car in a crash in the Cotswolds.

    The A429 towards Cirencester near the A40 junction was closed earlier but has now been reopened to traffic.

  12. Rail track boulder disruption ongoingpublished at 17:57 GMT 9 January 2017

    A large boulder which fell 40ft down a cliff onto a railway line in Gloucestershire is continuing to cause disruption to services. 

    Engineers have spent the day breaking it into smaller pieces but Network Rail says the line may not reopen before the morning. 

    There are nets in place to prevent stones and debris falling onto the tracks but the boulder was bigger and heavier than the protective barrier is designed to withstand.

    Julian Burnell, from Network Rail, said staff will work round the clock to ensure that services are back to normal as soon as possible.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Julian Burnell, from Network Rail, says staff will work round the clock to ensure that services are back to normal as soon as possible

  13. Forest of Dean woman's death 'not suspicious'published at 17:22 GMT 9 January 2017

    Police car

    The death of a woman initially found injured at a Gloucestershire house was not suspicious, police have confirmed.

    Gloucestershire Police previously said the death of the 53-year-old in Littledean was unexplained.

    The woman was found with serious injuries at a house in Broad Street at 3pm on 5 January. She died a short time later.

    Police are conducting inquiries on behalf of the coroner, a spokesman said.

  14. Druid to sue over Stonehenge chargespublished at 17:03 GMT 9 January 2017

    King Arthur Pendragon and supporters

    A senior druid has been told he can take English Heritage to court over car parking charges at Stonehenge. 

    King Arthur Pendragon argues it breaches his human rights to have to "pay to pray" at the stone circle for solstice events. 

    He was joined by other druid and pagan supporters to protest outside the courthouse in Salisbury. 

    English Heritage and Wiltshire Council said they would not comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.

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  15. Cheltenham sign Brown and Boylepublished at 16:42 GMT 9 January 2017

    Cheltenham re-sign goalkeeper Scott Brown on loan from Wycombe and Huddersfield defender Will Boyle on a free transfer.

    Read More
  16. Delays caused by boulder on the tracks expected until end of daypublished at 16:21 GMT 9 January 2017

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  17. Three hurt as lorry sheds load of rocks on to carpublished at 16:07 GMT 9 January 2017

    Crash wreckage

    Three people are being treated in hospital after a lorry carrying rocks shed part of its load of Cotswold stone on to a car during a crash in Gloucestershire.

    Police said the crash happened just after 11.45am near Northleach on the A429 near the junction with the A40.

    Two cars - a Jaguar and a Ford Focus Sport - and the lorry were involved, a spokesman said. A 56-year-old man from Staffordshire, who was driving the Jaguar, was taken to Southmead Hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

    A man from Cheltenham and his female passenger in the Ford Focus were taken to Swindon Hospital with minor injuries. The lorry driver was no hurt.

    Officers said the road is likely to remain closed until about 7pm while an investigation takes place.

    Crash wreckage
    Crash wreckage
    Crash wreckage
    Crash wreckage
  18. Leonardo Helicopters secures a deal worth more than a quarter of a billionpublished at 15:44 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: The contract with the MoD will see the firm maintain Wildcat helicopters

    A five-year deal worth £271m will protect hundreds of aerospace jobs across the UK, the government has said.

    Many of those will be in Yeovil and at the Royal Naval Air Station, also in Somerset. 

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the contract with Leonardo - the firm that maintains Wildcat helicopters for the Royal Navy.

  19. Somerset-based explorer ready to climb Aconcaguapublished at 15:24 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Explorer ready to climb Aconcagua

    Somerset explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is preparing to embark on his latest challenge. He is climbing the highest mountain in South America. 

    It's the latest adventure in his ongoing mission to become the first person to cross both polar ice caps and climb the highest mountain on each continent.

    We spoke to him via Skype from base camp.

  20. Who will run Bristol's Metrobus?published at 14:57 GMT 9 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: With nine months to go we still don't know who will operate Bristol's Metrobus

    The operator for Bristol and South Gloucestershire's £200m Metrobus scheme is yet to be confirmed, nine months before it's due to open. 

    Here's a few of the comments about it on BBC Points West's Facebook page, external:

    • Mark Jackson: Could give it to the Council to run in the first instance. Has to be seen through & for all the moaning - someone had to try something. It's a shame it's not trolly buses though
    • Julie Humphries: Like the bus lane on Badminton Road! Useless! Get rid of it and get the traffic moving again
    • Mark Smith: What an absolute waste!, endless jams on the ring road, for what an extra lane
    • Sharon Forward: You mean to say it's being built without someone running it? That's just ludicrous
    • Carol Garrington: Probably another white elephant :(