Weather: 'A cool and cloudy weekend with outbreaks of rain'
That's it from the BBC's live page for the West of England this week.
Join us again from Monday for more live news, sport, weather and travel updates.
Accidents involving horses prompt new police system
British Horse SocietyCopyright: British Horse Society
Avon and Somerset Police's mounted section is
teaming up with the British Horse Society to launch a new online reporting
system for horse riders.
It will help educate drivers and riders about their responsibilities when using the road.
Nationally since 2010, more than 2,900 road incidents involving horses have been reported, and within that
figure 39 riders and 230 horses have been killed.
PC Vicki Ephgrave, of the
Mounted section, said "this new
online reporting system is really important in providing us with vital
information on areas we need to focus our efforts on to make them as safe
as possible for everyone".
A
former private hospital will soon be home to more than 100 students after
Bristol City Council gave the green light for its redevelopment.
The former St Mary’s Hospital, close to the Clifton Triangle, has been vacant for a number of years.
But now the University of Bristol plans to turn it into accommodation for 153 students, including two-bed apartments and townhouses as well as
common space for residents.
Quote Message: The provision of 153 student beds at St Mary’s Hospital will help Bristol meet its broader housing needs, as well as removing the uncertainty that has been hanging over this important property’s future for the last six years. from Tim Attlee Acting CEO of developer Empiric
The provision of 153 student beds at St Mary’s Hospital will help Bristol meet its broader housing needs, as well as removing the uncertainty that has been hanging over this important property’s future for the last six years.
Cash-strapped Swindon schools say cuts 'unsustainable'
GoogleCopyright: Google
Cuts to school funding are "completely unsustainable", according to Swindon head teachers who have joined together to raise awareness of the issue.
Teachers in the town will be displaying banners outside their schools from 1-3 May, as well as sending information home to parents.
Eirian Painter, head teacher of Lainesmead Primary School, said: "Last year we had to halve the number of teaching assistants in the school.
"A further area cut is the number of sessions we are able to buy to support children who need emotional support in order to access learning.
"This is completely unsustainable."
The move comes as part of a
national campaign, which has seen similar activities across the country.
Final roof slate installed at veteran's facility
OurWiltonCopyright: OurWilton
The last roof slate has been laid in the construction of an innovative development in Wiltshire for veterans transitioning to independent living.
The Veterans Hub in
Wilton will have 44 flats, a vocational re-training centre and a coffee shop.
Specialist homeless charity Alabaré will help support the veterans.
Work now moves inside with the aim of it being completed by the end of
the year.
Nature lovers needed for challenge
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Nature lovers in Bristol and Bath are being asked to join a race to discover and record as much wildlife as possible as part of a new international competition.
The four-day City Nature Challenge runs from today until Monday and will see the region compete with 64 cities on five different continents.
Savita Willmott, director of the Bristol Natural History Consortium said: "We know how passionate people in this area are about wildlife and the environment and we want them to help us win this competition and show just how important the natural world is to our lives."
For more information on how to join the team tap here.
Police in Gloucester are
appealing for the public's help to trace a 16-year-old girl who has been missing for two days.
Yasmin Sulcova was last seen in the Alfred Street area of Gloucester at about 09:30 BST on Wednesday.
She is described as 5ft 1in tall and slim with very long, black hair.
When last seen she was wearing grey jogging trousers, a black top, blue Puffa
jacket and pink Nike flip flops.
Police are appealing for information after a nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy had his walker and wheelchair stolen.
The items were taken from the front garden of a house in John Street, Kingswood, as the boys mother unloaded the car following a day out.
Police would like to hear from anyone who might have seen them or know their whereabouts.
Bristol's desires to host the Rugby League World Cup
BBCCopyright: BBC
Bristol wants to bid to host games in the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.
The games would be hosted at Ashton Gate football stadium if the bid was successful.
Bristol City Council said it was exploring options for submitting a
successful bid.
Quote Message: In Bristol we want to make it easier for people to take part in sport, encourage more home grown elite talent and attract more world class events to the city. With the cycling grand prix happening later this year and the announcement of the Cricket World Cup coming to the city the year after there is plenty to get excited about over the next two years. from Spokesperson, Bristol City Council
In Bristol we want to make it easier for people to take part in sport, encourage more home grown elite talent and attract more world class events to the city. With the cycling grand prix happening later this year and the announcement of the Cricket World Cup coming to the city the year after there is plenty to get excited about over the next two years.
A cycleway on Baldwin Street in Bristol will be extended once building work is complete.
Several cyclists took to social media earlier this week to complain that the cycle lane has often been blocked by parked lorries and skips.
Bristol City council said work on the cycleway was not yet complete in the area where building works are taking place, as the developer needed vehicle access.
A spokesperson said: “Once these building works are
complete, we will be able to extend the cycleway and reduce the gap between the
two sections, which will make it more difficult for vehicles to gain access to
the facility.
BBCCopyright: BBC
"A concrete block is currently in place to stop vehicles entering the cycleway as a temporary measure while this building work is ongoing, and the position of this block has been better centred to cause less of an obstruction to cyclists heading towards Castle Park."
They added the situation would continue to be monitored and enforcement action would be taken against anyone found to be parking on the cycleway.
A collection of 100,000 toy soldiers is up for sale
A collection of 100,000 toy soldiers, amassed over a lifetime and stored in a garage, is up for sale.
Carmelo Mazzotta, from Bristol, began collecting the toys with his brother Emile when he was eight years old.
He died in 2016 following a battle with leukaemia and now his vast collection is being auctioned, expected to fetch about £30,000.
University researches the power of alcohol information
Matthew Hill
BBC West health correspondent
BBCCopyright: BBC
According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2016 the South West had
the highest proportion of people who said they drank alcohol in the previous
week - 70% compared with a 57.4% average in England.
Government scientists advise us not to
drink more than 14 units a week.
But many of us don't realise that we are
drinking too much.
Current alcohol labelling is regulated by the EU.
At the moment the nutritional information including calories must be displayed on soft drinks - but alcohol is exempt.
So scientists from the University of Bristol have developed beer mats which point out how many calories and units drinks contain.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Get involved
British Horse SocietyCopyright: British Horse Society GoogleCopyright: Google GoogleCopyright: Google OurWiltonCopyright: OurWilton Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Gloucestershire ConstabularyCopyright: Gloucestershire Constabulary View more on twitterView more on twitter Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images View more on twitterView more on twitter BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC View more on twitterView more on twitter
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Read moreWeather: 'A cool and cloudy weekend with outbreaks of rain'
That's it from the BBC's live page for the West of England this week.
Join us again from Monday for more live news, sport, weather and travel updates.
Accidents involving horses prompt new police system
Avon and Somerset Police's mounted section is teaming up with the British Horse Society to launch a new online reporting system for horse riders.
It will help educate drivers and riders about their responsibilities when using the road.
Nationally since 2010, more than 2,900 road incidents involving horses have been reported, and within that figure 39 riders and 230 horses have been killed.
PC Vicki Ephgrave, of the Mounted section, said "this new online reporting system is really important in providing us with vital information on areas we need to focus our efforts on to make them as safe as possible for everyone".
If you’ve been involved in a near miss you can make a report online using the following link: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/horses
Former hospital to become student digs
A former private hospital will soon be home to more than 100 students after Bristol City Council gave the green light for its redevelopment.
The former St Mary’s Hospital, close to the Clifton Triangle, has been vacant for a number of years.
But now the University of Bristol plans to turn it into accommodation for 153 students, including two-bed apartments and townhouses as well as common space for residents.
Cash-strapped Swindon schools say cuts 'unsustainable'
Cuts to school funding are "completely unsustainable", according to Swindon head teachers who have joined together to raise awareness of the issue.
Teachers in the town will be displaying banners outside their schools from 1-3 May, as well as sending information home to parents.
Eirian Painter, head teacher of Lainesmead Primary School, said: "Last year we had to halve the number of teaching assistants in the school.
"A further area cut is the number of sessions we are able to buy to support children who need emotional support in order to access learning.
"This is completely unsustainable."
The move comes as part of a national campaign, which has seen similar activities across the country.
Final roof slate installed at veteran's facility
The last roof slate has been laid in the construction of an innovative development in Wiltshire for veterans transitioning to independent living.
The Veterans Hub in Wilton will have 44 flats, a vocational re-training centre and a coffee shop.
Specialist homeless charity Alabaré will help support the veterans.
Work now moves inside with the aim of it being completed by the end of the year.
Nature lovers needed for challenge
Nature lovers in Bristol and Bath are being asked to join a race to discover and record as much wildlife as possible as part of a new international competition.
The four-day City Nature Challenge runs from today until Monday and will see the region compete with 64 cities on five different continents.
Savita Willmott, director of the Bristol Natural History Consortium said: "We know how passionate people in this area are about wildlife and the environment and we want them to help us win this competition and show just how important the natural world is to our lives."
For more information on how to join the team tap here.
Police appeal for help to find missing teenager
Police in Gloucester are appealing for the public's help to trace a 16-year-old girl who has been missing for two days.
Yasmin Sulcova was last seen in the Alfred Street area of Gloucester at about 09:30 BST on Wednesday.
She is described as 5ft 1in tall and slim with very long, black hair. When last seen she was wearing grey jogging trousers, a black top, blue Puffa jacket and pink Nike flip flops.
Toby Buckland says 'save the M5's Willow Man'
Rugby: West of England derby this weekend
Gloucester and Bath meet for the big West of England derby tomorrow at Kingsholm.
The Cherry and Whites are already guaranteed a spot in next season's Champions Cup after results went their way in the Challenge Cup last weekend.
Bath will realistically need to beat their rivals if they are to have any chance of a top half finish.
Gloucester won the reverse fixture 22-21 at Bath's Recreation Ground back in October.
New pictures released of stolen wheelchair
Police are appealing for information after a nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy had his walker and wheelchair stolen.
The items were taken from the front garden of a house in John Street, Kingswood, as the boys mother unloaded the car following a day out.
Police would like to hear from anyone who might have seen them or know their whereabouts.
Bristol's desires to host the Rugby League World Cup
Bristol wants to bid to host games in the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.
The games would be hosted at Ashton Gate football stadium if the bid was successful.
Bristol City Council said it was exploring options for submitting a successful bid.
These 100,000 toy soldiers are being sold
Bristol cycleway 'to be extended'
A cycleway on Baldwin Street in Bristol will be extended once building work is complete.
Several cyclists took to social media earlier this week to complain that the cycle lane has often been blocked by parked lorries and skips.
Bristol City council said work on the cycleway was not yet complete in the area where building works are taking place, as the developer needed vehicle access.
A spokesperson said: “Once these building works are complete, we will be able to extend the cycleway and reduce the gap between the two sections, which will make it more difficult for vehicles to gain access to the facility.
"A concrete block is currently in place to stop vehicles entering the cycleway as a temporary measure while this building work is ongoing, and the position of this block has been better centred to cause less of an obstruction to cyclists heading towards Castle Park."
They added the situation would continue to be monitored and enforcement action would be taken against anyone found to be parking on the cycleway.
A collection of 100,000 toy soldiers is up for sale
A collection of 100,000 toy soldiers, amassed over a lifetime and stored in a garage, is up for sale.
Carmelo Mazzotta, from Bristol, began collecting the toys with his brother Emile when he was eight years old.
He died in 2016 following a battle with leukaemia and now his vast collection is being auctioned, expected to fetch about £30,000.
University researches the power of alcohol information
Matthew Hill
BBC West health correspondent
According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2016 the South West had the highest proportion of people who said they drank alcohol in the previous week - 70% compared with a 57.4% average in England.
Government scientists advise us not to drink more than 14 units a week.
But many of us don't realise that we are drinking too much.
Current alcohol labelling is regulated by the EU.
At the moment the nutritional information including calories must be displayed on soft drinks - but alcohol is exempt.
So scientists from the University of Bristol have developed beer mats which point out how many calories and units drinks contain.
Fatal motorbike crash prompts police appeal
The crash happened on Burnham Moor Lane, near Highbridge, at 14:50 BST on Thursday, according to police.
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