As it happened: West of England

Police in Bath have carried out a series of early morning drugs raids across the city.

The operation led to 19 people being arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences and the recovery of a quantity of suspected Class A drugs.

It was the culmination of a four-month investigation to track down people selling cocaine and other Class A drugs.

For diehard rugby players the decision to hang up your boots when the aches and pains of older age kick in can be difficult to bear. 

Now Gloucester Rugby club is offering an alternative version of the game - that's less physical. 

It's called "walking rugby" and, whilst it may sound sedate, the health benefits for some players have been overwhelming. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

Earlier we told how 2,000 families from across the West will be in temporary accommodation over Christmas.

Katie Sobol and her family have been in their current house for nine years but now their landlord is selling and they can't afford to rent anywhere else. She says they will have to declare themselves homeless to receive council help. 

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said the number of people in temporary accommodation is "well below the 2004 peak".

Quote Message: However we know there is more to do, which is why we’ve invested £500m to prevent and tackle homelessness and set out the largest affordable housebuilding programme of any government since the 1970s." from Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman

However we know there is more to do, which is why we’ve invested £500m to prevent and tackle homelessness and set out the largest affordable housebuilding programme of any government since the 1970s."

You may think you know all there is to know about famous reindeer at Christmas, the red nose, the sleigh guiding but then you haven't met Bertie from Somerset.

With a tug of his ears he delivers a thank you gift in the shape of a box of mince pies. 

Bertie the blue-nosed reindeer will be in Taunton on Friday for an event celebrating the work of local charities.

Taunton Military Wives Choir is getting ready for BBC Somerset's Christmas Celebration.

They will be singing Home For Christmas at St Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton along with Somerset County Youth Choirs.

We caught up with them as they rehearsed.

Lily-Rose Cornford, four, was woken by a smoke alarm in the early hours of Sunday morning and managed to wake up her mum, dad and two older sisters, who all escaped unharmed.

The fire, which is believed to have started accidentally, completely gutted their home in Warmley.

Lily-Rose’s mum Tanya Cornford said: “My little girl was woken up by the smoke alarms and quickly ran into her sister’s room and woke her and then came downstairs to wake us up too."

Firefighters say smoke alarms can give people vital extra minutes to escape, especially at night.

Avon Fire & Rescue ServiceCopyright: Avon Fire & Rescue Service

Michael and Emily Eavis have been awarded honorary fellowships by Goldsmiths University of London.

The father and daughter team behind the Glastonbury Festival are two of the 900 scholars graduating from the university this week.

The first of seven murals celebrating the founders of the St Pauls Carnival in Bristol has been completed today.

The hope is by next year's 50th anniversary of the procession people will be able to go on a walking tour of the works and learn about the impact they had on the city using an app on their mobile phones.

ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock

A paraglider feared for her life during a near miss with a military transport aircraft, a report has said.

The woman, who has not been named, was operating a paramotor - a motorised paraglider - when she had a "very close encounter" with an Airbus A400M which was approaching Boscombe Down Airport in Wiltshire in July, the UK Airprox Board said.

She told investigators "she thought she was going to die".

The UKAB assessed the incident as having the most serious degree of risk.

Read more on this story.

Lyons familyCopyright: Lyons family

A second man arrested in connection with a house fire in which a "devoted mum" died has been released on bail.

The body of Andraya Lyons, 39, was found in Drew Street, Swindon at 05:40 GMT on Saturday.

The 36-year-old man from the town was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender following the fatal fire.

Anthony Porter, 32, who was charged with Ms Lyon's murder has been remanded in custody to stand trial next year.

A Gloucestershire-based personal trainer who uses steroids says more young men are experimenting with the Class C drug. 

The fitness coach, who wishes to remain anonymous, says young men are using the drug to get the "perfect" body but many don't know what they are doing.

Anabolic steroids are used to enhance athletic performance and increase muscle mass but can cause heart and liver problems. It is a crime to make, advertise or sell the Class C drug.    

PACopyright: PA

A truck driver has been telling the jury about the moment he realised the brakes were not working as he drove down a steep hill in Bath, leading to the deaths of four people.

Phillip Potter (pictured above) said as soon as he saw the 20mph restriction sign he knew the brakes were not responding. He tried to get into third gear to slow the engine down and started honking the horn to warn people. 

He said everything happened so fast and that before he knew it the truck had hit the wall and it was on his side.  

PACopyright: PA

Mr Potter told the court that he was in shock after the accident and a man took him to sit down in a driveway, where his boss Matthew Gordon found him. 

"I asked him to check my back as it was hurting. He grabbed hold of me and said 'Don't tell the police about the ABS light'," Mr Potter said. 

Phillip Potter, truck owner Matthew Gordon and mechanic Peter Wood all deny the charges against them. The trial at Bristol Crown Court continues.

In the military town of Tidworth in Wiltshire, troops and their families have access to a medical centre which is dedicated to the Army. 

Here we meet one of the nurses who works there.

A Somerset charity has built a reindeer with a unique ability.   

"When you pull down on his ear, a gift comes out of his rear," they say - and the video above shows him in action.

A member of staff at Somerset Age UK built Bertie the reindeer for a charity event.

You'll be able to see him dispensing mince pies this Friday in Taunton.

He'll then be auctioned off to new owners next week.

Huw Evans picture agencyCopyright: Huw Evans picture agency

Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau returns for Bath's European Challenge Cup game at home to Cardiff Blues on Thursday.

Faletau missed his side's 28-3 defeat at Cardiff Arms Park last Saturdaywhile flanker Francois Louw will make his first appearance of the season for Bath.

The half-back pairing George Ford and Kahn Fotuali'i also return.

Cardiff Blues have made three changes for the game at the Recreation Ground.

Click here to read more.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Police in Bath have carried out a series of early morning drugs raids across the city.

The operation led to 19 people being arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences and the recovery of a quantity of suspected Class A drugs.

It was the culmination of a four-month investigation to track down people selling cocaine and other Class A drugs.

The girlfriend of a student who drowned in the River Avon in Bath last month wants people to help her spread his smile in a video.  

Emma Comley has shared a video showing Henry Burke and herself saying it is "one of the happiest memories" she has left. 

Henry, 19, was last seen leaving Zero Zero nightclub in Bath last month.

Days later his body was recovered from a stretch of the river off Old Orchard.