As it happened: West of England

A stylist from Gloucester is bringing a little Hollywood glamour to the city to help a local hospice's fundraising efforts.

Dave Thomas, from Churchdown, has collected art from cilents including Boy George, Lionel Richie and John Legend.

He's hoping to sell them off at Longfield Hospice's Big Heart online auction which starts on the 21st November. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

About £500,000 is being spent to help draw up solutions to prevent flooding and help Taunton Dean's future development.

Taunton Deane Borough Council wants to build extra flood defences to protect existing homes and businesses but also create a large water storage area in Bradford-on-Tone, which has been flooded in the past.

If the proposals go through, it would move forward plans for a new business park near the M5 at junction 25, and enable more homes to be built at Monkton Heathfield.

The first stage of the work will involve examining the current flood defences, exploring the options and coming up with ideas.

One hundred years ago on The Somme one of the bloodiest battles of World War One was nearing an end. 

The British had advanced just seven miles at a cost of nearly 150,000 lives - among them no fewer than 11 rugby players from Gloucester. 

About 30 men from the much-loved team were killed in The Great War overall. 

The significance of their effort has been discovered by Martin Davies, a historian and author who used to play rugby.

It won't be long before you see this in the skies above Somerset.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance's new helicopter has arrived in the UK.

West of England PartnershipCopyright: West of England Partnership

Some in Bristol have been posting their thoughts on the news that the Metrobus total costs have gone up from £203m a year ago to nearly £216m.

Here's a selection of comments from the BBC Points West Facebook page:

Matt Morris: "Goes to show what an absolute joke the project is from beginning to end!! And will they actually find an operator to run it?!? It's a colossal waste of OUR money - where's the oversight on this?!?"

Ashlie Spedding: "These projects always overspend. Contract decisions based on lowest cost instead of most accurate and achievable estimates. Everyone benefits from undercosting, except the people who actually pay for the work."

Chris Phillips: "A scheme nobody wanted. What a waste of money and status when Bristol could have had a modern tram system which everybody would love."

Mike Record: "Lets tear up some countryside and allotments for a white elephant. We need to go back to ensuring the traffic flows properly. Get rid of all the traffic calming measures and jutty out bits in the road and free up the congestion."

Redland the Avon and Somerset Police horse was taken to HorseWorld today where he'll spend his retirement.

The A39 Causeway between Glastonbury and Street is being resurfaced at the moment.

Work started on Friday and is set to be completed by Monday morning.

The Somerset highways team has posted this video of what was done last night...

BBCCopyright: BBC

BBC Gloucestershire: Extradition proceedings have started to bring a rapist from Cheltenham back to the UK to serve his sentence.

BBC Somerset: A new bus route looks set replace the number 10 Porlock to Minehead service and the number 101 Minehead Town service.

BBC Wiltshire: Wiltshire patients being treated at the Mineral Water Hospital in Bath are being asked to take part in discussions for its proposed move to the Royal United Hospital at Combe Park.

BBC Bristol: People living around Bristol are being told to stop clogging up the sewers by flushing wet wipes.

BBCCopyright: BBC

A 'mutilated' pony that was found in a paddock earlier this month died of natural causes and the injuries found on its body were made by other animals, police have said.

The animal was found dead in a paddock, in Kensington Road, Salisbury, on 14 October.

When the incident was reported to police, horse and pony owners were advised to check the safety of their animals as the cause of the injuries to the pony were not known at the time.

People living around Bristol are being told to stop clogging up the sewers by flushing wet wipes. 

Wessex Water says they're called out to deal with blockages 13,000 times a year.

The firm is campaigning to re-classify the products that are currently marketed as "flushable".

BBC Points West's Andrew Plant has more...

People living and working in Yeovil say roadworks taking place are causing havoc for locals.

There are currently roadworks on Lyde Road while new homes are built nearby and a roundabout is replaced.

Barratt Homes which is building the houses says it's liaising closely with Somerset County Council to ensure disruptions are kept to a minimum, and is sorry for the inconvenience.

Avon and Somerset Police officers have bid a fond farewell to one of their longest-serving police horses, which retired today. 

Redland has been with the force since 2003, serving at football matches, demonstrations and the Glastonbury Festival, as well as the 2012 London Olympics.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Gloucester second-row forward James Hudson has retired after failing to recover from a serious knee injury.

Hudson was injured in a pre-season game against fellow Premiership side Exeter in September 2015.

The 34-year-old, who signed for the Cherry and Whites from Newcastle in March 2013, made 146 career Premiership appearances in spells with four clubs.

A team of glassblowers in Wiltshire has created a set of roundels for a music-themed sculpture at a Bristol concert venue. 

The artwork is being created by renowned artist Luke Jerram, and will feature in the internationally-acclaimed St George's concert hall.

Gloucestershire's property market is facing a stock shortage, a lettings agent in Cheltenham has claimed.

Mike Lewis, from Sure Sales and Lettings, says demand is outstripping supply for rented homes - particularly in Cheltenham. 

He explains some of the reasons behind the shortage:

According to Wiltshire Council the state of the county's roads is improving. Their annual highways review says 205 miles of carriageway has been improved in the last two years.

In 2014 the authority decided it would spend £21 million on the roads every year for six years, to try and cut a backlog of maintenance.

However BBC Wiltshire asked their listeners what they thought and dozens of people complained that they're unhappy with the state of the roads.

Cllr Philip Whitehead Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport has been questioned about the issue.