As it happened: West of England

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• Bristol Post: First blames MetroBus roadworks disruption for cuts to its services.
• Somerset County Gazette: Legal high 'Spice' causing Taunton residents to fall ill.
• Swindon Advertiser: Cut in housing benefit may mean rise in foodbank use.
• Gloucestershire Live: Petition launched to stop street drinkers fighting and urinating in Gloucester public garden.

Ukulele lessons are being offered to children in a Bristol hospital.

Staff say the instrument is ideal because it's small enough to be played in bed and can be learned easily.

The four-stringed instrument is being taught to youngsters at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children thanks to donations from a local shop and a music charity.

Kerry Morrison is Music Therapist at the hospital.  She says the instrument is perfect for all age groups. 

Earlier this evening we told you about protests that are ongoing against a planned McDonalds in Fishponds. 

One of the concerns of the protesters is the health impact on a nearby school.

Glyn Owen is the head chef at Whitehall Primary school in Bristol. He's also part of the Sugar Smart scheme which is trying to make children eat more healthily.

He says there should be wider restrictions on how far away fast food outlets should be from schools, as well as educating parents that fast food is fine - but only in moderation.

PACopyright: PA

The Roman Baths has been recognised as one of the country’s top three large visitor attractions at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. 

Quote Message: We are delighted that the Roman Baths has been recognised as one of England’s best large visitor attractions. This reflects the continual improvements made by staff at the Roman Baths to ensure that our visitors from around the world receive an outstanding welcome. from Patrick Anketell-Jones Councillor and Cabinet Member for Economic Development

We are delighted that the Roman Baths has been recognised as one of England’s best large visitor attractions. This reflects the continual improvements made by staff at the Roman Baths to ensure that our visitors from around the world receive an outstanding welcome.

The Roman Baths were pipped at the post by Waddesdon Manor, which was the overall winner in the Large Attraction of the Year category. The Mary Rose Museum was the other finalist.  

A conversion project with a difference at Swindon's Artsite. 

The old post office next to the Wyvern theatre was converted to become a home for artists 10 years ago.

They've since gone on to become a victim of their own success, and now their members are on the lookout for new premises.

Bristol City Council has been hearing an appeal against a refusal for McDonalds to have planning permission for a branch in the Fishponds area of Bristol.

The fast food firm wants to build a two storey restaurant on a site which is currently derelict, but it was refused on traffic grounds.

The city council will also be considering the public health impact for the area when deciding on permission to build there.

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It's pretty fair to say the news of the Colston Hall's name change has been a big talking point across social media today.

• On Radio Bristol's Facebook page, Stuart Stickler wrote: Fight slavery and human rights offences happening now, changing the name won't change the past. This is just sweeping it under the carpet. 
• Matthew Colledge writes: The Colston Hall opened in 1867, nearly 150 years after Edward Colston died. He didn't pay for, design, or build the venue that bears his name. The decision to call the building the Colston Hall was taken by people who knew Edward Colston no better than the people who have now decided to change its name. So, remind me, which bit of history exactly is being rewritten? 
• But Dean Harrison disagrees: I think it's great that the name is changing, shame it's taken so long! Yes slavery was a long time ago - so was the war but we remember the fallen not Hitler. This guy was an evil racist trader and should be remembered as such, not placed on a pedestal! 

The funeral has been held of one of Cheltenham's most well-known characters. 

Ken Hanks, who was also known as Dancing Ken, was famous across Gloucestershire for his colourful clothing and public dancing. 

He died aged 81 earlier this month.  

Here's what Katie Finnegan-Clarke had to say on BBC Points West a short time ago.

Massive Attack's Daddy G has said how pleased he is at the news of the Colston Hall's name change.

For many years, the group famously refused to play a gig there because of the ties to Bristol's slave trading past. He sees it as a step forward for the multi-racial group.

A Q&A has been posted on the Colston Hall's website explaining their motives for the new name. 

"I remember when that building used to be..."

The older among you may be used to hearing lines like that. As our buildings change over time, or disappear altogether some of that local history can be lost with it.

A group of people in North Curry, Somerset, have been gathering information on all the old businesses that used to be based there - including auctioneers, blacksmiths and even a cinema.

Don't panic! This one didn't get too far thankfully. 

"Denzel" was being taken for a walk by his keeper across Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge, as Bristol Zoo prepares to launch a new exhibition featuring animatronic dinosaurs. 

After going for a wander Denzel was eventually recaptured by his keepers, so he didn't try anything exciting like his cousins in the film Jurassic Park. 

Where is Jeff Goldblum when you need him?

Ben Birchall/PACopyright: Ben Birchall/PA

Ben Birchall/PACopyright: Ben Birchall/PA

UKIP have confirmed that they aren't contesting three seats in Somerset for the upcoming general election.

Wells, Somerton and Frome and Yeovil won't have any UKIP candidates on the ballot paper.

In Wells, the UKIP Wells Association Branch chair says their committee voted unanimously not to stand a candidate, as they are broadly supportive of the current MP James Heappey's support for Theresa May's Brexit plans.

Quote Message: Our vote share could be enough to tip it just back to the Lib Dems. We’re not doing deals, how members vote is up to them. But stats show our core voters, if not voting UKIP, will vote Conservative from Helen Hims UKIP Wells Association branch chair

Our vote share could be enough to tip it just back to the Lib Dems. We’re not doing deals, how members vote is up to them. But stats show our core voters, if not voting UKIP, will vote Conservative

Earlier today, police had been searching for missing student Anna Lewis in woodland near Stoke Park in Bristol.

Before she walked into a police station in North Devon today, she had been missing for 13 days, prompting appeals from Avon and Somerset Police.

Anna had been known to go on long camping trips before, and police have confirmed she was camping during the time she was missing.

Ten sightings of her were reported before she was found safe and well today. 

Police have confirmed Anna left to go away of her own accord, and was believed to have been by herself. They also believe she was camping.

Anna has been working at Southmead Hospital where she was last seen before going missing almost two weeks ago.

Police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens also weighed in with her thoughts...