Shorter school days? MP writes to government over 'crisis'
BBCCopyright: BBC
Local Conservative MP Jack Lopresti has written to the Department for Education (DfE) after a head teacher suggested school days would have to be shortened to save money.
Dave Baker of the Olympus Trust, which operates seven schools in the Bradley Stoke area near Bristol, said government cuts had left it at "crisis point".
Mr Lopresti said he had contacted the (DfE) for "reassurance and help on this matter".
A DfE spokesman said new funding plans would increase the trust's budget by 2.4 per cent.
Mother, 32, dies in Swindon road crash
GoogleCopyright: Google
A woman has died in a crash in Swindon this afternoon.
Police said the collision involving a "refuse disposal vehicle" happened outside the Arkells Brewery on Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton at about 4.30pm.
The woman, aged 32, and from
North Swindon was on her way to collect her child from a minder.
Emergency services attended but she died at the scene. Her family has been informed.
The road remains closed while
an investigation takes place.
M4 Wiltshire car transporter fire still causing delays
Pete CookCopyright: Pete Cook
Delays are ongoing after a car transporter caught fire on the M4 westbound near J16 and J17 at Chippenham.
Two lanes are closed and delays are expected, the eastbound carriageway reopened earlier.
An attempt to challenge a decision by the Conservative-led Bath council to build a park and ride on the outskirts of the city has failed.
Liberal Democrats and Labour councillors
asked for the cabinet decision to be reviewed, as they believed there was not enough public scrutiny before the council vote.
But the scrutiny panel at Bath and North East Somerset Council found that procedures were followed and the cabinet's decision could be implemented.
The key group pushing for a fairer funding system in England's schools says government plans for a funding shake-up need to be rethought.
The F40 group, which campaigned for 20 years for the funding overhaul, is warning that some poorly funded areas, and schools within them, will lose out.
Its vice-chair, Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk, says it is important "one injustice isn't replaced with another".
Ministers say their plans will end unequal funding across the country.
Firearms dealer 'supplied ammunition for more than 90 crimes'
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today
A firearms dealer has gone on trial accused of supplying
ammunition later found at more than 90 crime scenes - including a number of
fatal shootings.
Helen TipperCopyright: Helen Tipper
Paul Edmunds, 65, from Hardwicke near Gloucester, allegedly supplied obsolete or antique hand guns along with specially-manufactured bullets which ended up in the hands of a criminal gang in the West Midlands.
A jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard the gang, led by Nosakhere Stephenson, sold the guns on to other criminals at approximately £3,000 apiece.
Ammunition allegedly made by Mr Edmunds was recovered from the scene of a shooting in Birmingham during the riots of 2011 in which several rounds were fired at a West Midlands Police helicopter.
Mr Edmunds denies two charges of transferring or conspiring to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition and a charge of possessing a prohibited firearm - a gas-powered air pistol.
He also denies two charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The trial, which is expected to last up to five weeks, continues.
Storm Doris: Delays in Cheltenham due to fallen tree
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Latest PostGoodnight from the Local Live team
We hope you've enjoyed today's offerings - if you've got any news you'd like to share with us you can tweet @BBCBristol or email us.
Otherwise, we'll be back tomorrow morning from 7am with more news, sport and weather.
You'll also be pleased to know Friday's weather is looking a bit better.
Cannabis farm found in ex-nuclear bunker
Take a look at this ex-nuclear bunker near Salisbury which turned out to be being used as a huge cannabis farm.
The plants, with an estimated street value of £1m, were seized in a raid on RGHQ Chilmark.
Six men were arrested on suspicion of cannabis production following the midnight raid on Wednesday.
Cat writes letter in first purr-son to find new home
Fizz the cat is looking for a new challenge after patrolling Woodborough Garden Centre in recent years.
The business has been taken over and the new management can't keep her so she's likely to be heading to the Cats Action Trust to find a new home.
Her current owners have written a note from Fizz to try to attract potential new owners.
Local government secretary defends government's council cuts
The Secretary of State for Local Government came West today - and faced criticism over cuts being made by councils.
Sajid Javid visited Somerset, Bath and Wiltshire to help his fellow Conservatives prepare for the local elections in May.
Despite being under pressure over falling funding levels, he defended the government's position.
Shorter school days? Schools that could be affected
Which schools does the Olympus Trust run?
Secondary Schools
Primary Schools
Shorter school days? MP writes to government over 'crisis'
Local Conservative MP Jack Lopresti has written to the Department for Education (DfE) after a head teacher suggested school days would have to be shortened to save money.
Dave Baker of the Olympus Trust, which operates seven schools in the Bradley Stoke area near Bristol, said government cuts had left it at "crisis point".
Mr Lopresti said he had contacted the (DfE) for "reassurance and help on this matter".
A DfE spokesman said new funding plans would increase the trust's budget by 2.4 per cent.
Mother, 32, dies in Swindon road crash
A woman has died in a crash in Swindon this afternoon.
Police said the collision involving a "refuse disposal vehicle" happened outside the Arkells Brewery on Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton at about 4.30pm.
The woman, aged 32, and from North Swindon was on her way to collect her child from a minder.
Emergency services attended but she died at the scene. Her family has been informed.
The road remains closed while an investigation takes place.
M4 Wiltshire car transporter fire still causing delays
Delays are ongoing after a car transporter caught fire on the M4 westbound near J16 and J17 at Chippenham.
Two lanes are closed and delays are expected, the eastbound carriageway reopened earlier.
Bath park and ride plans challenge dismissed
An attempt to challenge a decision by the Conservative-led Bath council to build a park and ride on the outskirts of the city has failed.
Liberal Democrats and Labour councillors asked for the cabinet decision to be reviewed, as they believed there was not enough public scrutiny before the council vote.
But the scrutiny panel at Bath and North East Somerset Council found that procedures were followed and the cabinet's decision could be implemented.
Storm Doris: Severn Crossing restrictions lifted
School funding changes 'risk injustice'
The key group pushing for a fairer funding system in England's schools says government plans for a funding shake-up need to be rethought.
The F40 group, which campaigned for 20 years for the funding overhaul, is warning that some poorly funded areas, and schools within them, will lose out.
Its vice-chair, Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk, says it is important "one injustice isn't replaced with another".
Ministers say their plans will end unequal funding across the country.
Click here to read more.
Swindon's Sherwood gets stadium ban
Swindon director of football Tim Sherwood will serve a two-match stadium ban after admitting he abused a match official.
Read moreStorm Doris: Bond St South likely to remain closed overnight
And an update from Ian on windiest places so far...
Drug-farm bunker 'almost completely impenetrable'
Several thousand cannabis plants have been seized in a raid on RGHQ Chilmark in Wiltshire.
The former Ministry of Defence bunker was built in the 1980s to protect local dignitaries and government officials in the event of a nuclear attack.
Described as "almost completely impenetrable", Wiltshire Police had to wait for the suspects to leave the bunker before they could gain access.
Click here to read more.
Firearms dealer 'supplied ammunition for more than 90 crimes'
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today
A firearms dealer has gone on trial accused of supplying ammunition later found at more than 90 crime scenes - including a number of fatal shootings.
Paul Edmunds, 65, from Hardwicke near Gloucester, allegedly supplied obsolete or antique hand guns along with specially-manufactured bullets which ended up in the hands of a criminal gang in the West Midlands.
A jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard the gang, led by Nosakhere Stephenson, sold the guns on to other criminals at approximately £3,000 apiece.
Ammunition allegedly made by Mr Edmunds was recovered from the scene of a shooting in Birmingham during the riots of 2011 in which several rounds were fired at a West Midlands Police helicopter.
Mr Edmunds denies two charges of transferring or conspiring to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition and a charge of possessing a prohibited firearm - a gas-powered air pistol.
He also denies two charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The trial, which is expected to last up to five weeks, continues.
Storm Doris: Delays in Cheltenham due to fallen tree
Storm Doris: Traffic and travel disruption through rush hour
Storm Doris: Road closure in Bristol
Murder victim's mother believes Halliwell killed more
The mother of a young woman from Swindon who was murdered by Christopher Halliwell says she believes he has killed more people.
Elaine Pickford's daughter Sian O'Callaghan became his second victim when he stabbed her in 2011.
Last year he was convicted of killing Becky Godden in 2003, after admitting killed Miss O'Callaghan in 2011.
Her comments come as forensic teams searching his former home on Broad Street say they will remain there into next week.