Channel Islands Live: 13 August

The Alderney lifeboat, Channel Islands Air Search and a French helicopter responded to the call from a lone sailor at about 09:00.

The helicopter arrived first and took the man to France for treatment and the lifeboat, which arrived about five minutes later towed the boat back to Alderney.

The sailor's condition is not known.

Alderney RNLICopyright: Alderney RNLI

Many sites run by the States of Guernsey Trading Assets will become completely smoke free next year, according to the government.

Under new plans the environment and surroundings of buildings used by bodies such as States Works, Property Services, Guernsey Dairy, Guernsey Harbours, Guernsey Airport and Guernsey Water will be covered.

A spokeswoman said the move was part of the Guernsey and Alderney Tobacco Control Strategy (2015-2020) working towards smoke-free grounds in most States of Guernsey properties.

Currently Guernsey Prison, education and health and social care buildings are already smoke free under existing laws, but last week Guernsey Ports applied for an exemption from the smoking ban around the harbour.

Two children and two adults were rescued by the RNLI in Jersey from a Rib, which had broken down not far from the Ecrehous on Saturday night.

The St Catherine's inshore lifeboat was called out to help the inflatable boat, which had an overheating engine and was rapidly being swept north by the tide.

The crew says it towed the boat back to St Catherine and transferred the people ashore.

A sink hole has opened up in Duhamel Street in St Helier, according to the parish.

The road has been closed until Friday.

The pay offer made to about 3,500 civil servants by the States of Jersey is "very disappointing" a union has said.

The States made a two-year pay offer for 2018 and 2019 to the different groups representing most of its 6,800 employees.

The offer, which will be backdated to January, gives the most to manual workers and doctors, followed by nurses, midwives, teachers, fire, police and prison workers.

Staff who fall under the civil service category will receive the lowest increase under the deal, which includes social workers, child welfare professionals, radiographers and teaching assistants.

Terry Renouf, from Prospect union that represent civil servants, says the offer represents a "further degradation" of the standard of living for workers, and members would be encouraged to reject the deal.

Mr Renouf said civil servants may consider industrial action in the future.

Quote Message: The current offer does nothing to counter the already low morale amongst civil service staff who continue to receive a lack of respect from their employer which we assumed was a trait of the previous regime and would not be repeated by the current incumbent." from Terry Renouf Prospect Union

The current offer does nothing to counter the already low morale amongst civil service staff who continue to receive a lack of respect from their employer which we assumed was a trait of the previous regime and would not be repeated by the current incumbent."

Police have released images of the damage caused by vandals which used spray paint on Don Road in St Helier.

It happened between 22:30 on Saturday and 11:35 on Sunday.

Major work has started to demolish a 48-year-old cable car station at Fort Regent in Jersey.

The work is expected to take about 12 weeks.

A spokesman said the States would aim to recycle at least 96% of the building, with recycled metal to be transported to Bellozane recycling yard; all concrete and asphalt transported to La Collette; and any re-usable timber will be sent to Acorn, Trinity.

The spokesman added asbestos would also be taken to La Collette for safe disposal.

Parents of nursery school children at La Petite Ecole, which is based at the fort, have been warned about possible traffic disruption during drop-off and pick up times.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Alderney's RNLI had six shouts in a "busy" July, with four in one day, according to the charity.

Joanna ParmentierCopyright: Joanna Parmentier

A spokesman said "ideal sailing conditions" and warm weather had resulted in a "significant number of visitors to the island by sea", meaning more vessels needed assistance.

The majority of rescues were due to engine trouble and light winds, with vessels requiring a tow to Braye Harbour, Alderney from the all-weather vessel Roy Barker.

So far in August the crew has been called out twice. The latest rescue saw the vessel assist a 31ft (9m) yacht which suffered a mechanical failure in a busy shipping lane.

Al fresco dining should expand in St Helier because it is good for the town, according to the parish constable.

Simon Crowcroft said licenses to allow outdoor eating areas were not often granted before he took up office, as officials thought it could interfere with pedestrian areas.

However, he said they are now granted wherever possible, although businesses have to pay a charge to establish a "level playing field" for those restaurants unable to have al fresco dining.

It has been 25 years since politicians in Jersey changed two laws in order to allow al fresco dining, the first was the customary law and the second, the licensing law.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Quote Message: There are other issues around how the al fresco is managed, the smoking ban has had an impact and I think it means people who want to dine al fresco but who don't want to inhale other people's smoke do have a challenge." from Constable Simon Crowcroft

There are other issues around how the al fresco is managed, the smoking ban has had an impact and I think it means people who want to dine al fresco but who don't want to inhale other people's smoke do have a challenge."

It is important the States of Jersey recognises an international organisation's definition of anti-Semitism, according to the president of the island's Jewish congregation.

Steven Regal says he has written to the chief minister asking him to recognise the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition after it emerged the States had not yet done so.

The States originally said anti-Semitism was already covered by Jersey's discrimination laws, and by Jersey police's hate crime policy.

But later the government changed direction and said the council of ministers had not yet had chance to discuss the definition. A spokesman said it would form part of a consultation on a draft hate crime law that should be completed by the end of the year.

Mr Regal says it is important the States follows international protocols because of the way anti-Semitic comments can be disguised.

Quote Message: It is illegal to say 'I hate Jews' but it is not illegal to say 'I hate Israel' whereas that second comment can also be used to disguise a hatred of Jews and is often dealt with in that manner. The IHRA definition addresses these subtleties that can be used in xenophobia." from Steven Regal President of Jersey's Jewish congregation

It is illegal to say 'I hate Jews' but it is not illegal to say 'I hate Israel' whereas that second comment can also be used to disguise a hatred of Jews and is often dealt with in that manner. The IHRA definition addresses these subtleties that can be used in xenophobia."

The company that runs Herm is being accused of negligence and sued for a total of £60,000 by a man who slipped on treated seaweed at Rosaire Steps and broke his kneecap.

About 60 people spent the night on camp beds in Jersey's Elizabeth Terminal on Friday night, as travel disruption coincided with one of the busiest weekends of the year.

As hundreds lined Victoria Avenue for the moonlight parade, flights between Jersey and Gatwick were cancelled "for operational reasons".

There was also disruption on the ferries leaving many passengers stranded on the island.

Under EU law, airlines and ferry operators have to provide passengers with accommodation if they're stranded overnight.

But a Ports of Jersey spokesperson says due to an increase in visitor numbers many of the island's hotels and guest houses were full.

And while rooms were found for as many people as possible, about 60 passengers were left with nowhere to go.

They were taken to the Elizabeth Terminal, where the fire service handed out given camp beds and blankets, as well as free sandwiches, teas, coffees and then breakfast on Saturday morning.

Quote Message: It’s the busiest week of the year on the island in terms of visitors. We provided camp beds and they were given sandwiches and team and coffee. A lot of people were affected but the majority of people were accommodated. This was unavoidable because of the weather, and we are an island." from Alan Donald Ports of Jersey

It’s the busiest week of the year on the island in terms of visitors. We provided camp beds and they were given sandwiches and team and coffee. A lot of people were affected but the majority of people were accommodated. This was unavoidable because of the weather, and we are an island."

Police are looking for information after a "large disturbance" involving "several males" in Guernsey.

Officers said it happened at Les Camps du Moulin and Le Hurel in St Martin between 20:00 and 21:00 on Saturday.

Parishes in Jersey are looking for new recruits to join the honorary police and administration.

The service, whose members serve on an unpaid basis similar to special constables in the UK, operates in every parish and run alongside the States of Jersey Police.

At a meeting on Monday night St Lawrence is looking to recruit two centeniers and an official to oversee the parish accounts. St Saviour is looking to elect a vingtenier and a constable's officer.

On Wednesday St Helier parishioners will vote on a new procureur and centenier for the parish.

More than 20% of visitors to Guernsey in May and June said they were "influenced" by the film the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, according to a politician.

STUDIOCANALCopyright: STUDIOCANAL

As a result Visit Guernsey, the States-funded company which promotes the island's tourism industry, says it will be working with film producers Studio Canal again to help promote it when it's released in the shops and online.

The company said it will be airing a 10 second advert for a week in August on regional and national television in a coordinated campaign with the production company. There will also be an increased digital campaign, according to the company.

Deputy Dawn Tindall, a member of the island's Committee for Economic Development, said the figures so far were "very positive" from promotion of the film.

Quote Message: The departing passenger research available shows that over 20% of visitors to Guernsey during May and June were influenced to visit Guernsey due to the promotional activity surrounding, or having seen, the film." from Deputy Dawn Tindall Committee for Economic Development

The departing passenger research available shows that over 20% of visitors to Guernsey during May and June were influenced to visit Guernsey due to the promotional activity surrounding, or having seen, the film."