Channel Islands Live: 19 July

The chief ministers of Guernsey and Jersey have expressed support in principle for "further work" to take place on businessman Martyn Dorey's 'Connect 3 Million' vision for the island's future, describing it as a "serious ambition".

The concept, first mooted by Mr Dorey in March, would be to construct a tunnel connecting the islands to each other and France, with the potential for an artificial island to house a new airport if sufficient private investment can be secured.

In a joint letter to Mr Dorey, Guernsey's Gavin St Pier and Jersey's John Le Fondré called for a "independent expert investigation of the technical detail and viability" of his idea.

Both Deputy St Pier and Senator Le Fondré also said they would be willing to meet with "potential investors in due course".

However, they acknowledge the need to "establish broad public and political support" for the venture, stating that they were not able to make "firm commitments at this stage".

BBCCopyright: BBC

The governments of Jersey and Guernsey have announced the annual changes to their retail price index (RPI), one of the main measures of consumer inflation, between June 2018 and 2019.

Jersey's RPI increased by 2.8% over the period, while Guernsey went up by 1.8%, which means both islands experienced price growth for a majority of consumer goods and services.

RPI is calculated by tracking the price changes of specific goods and services used by households on the islands.

Winds of force six can be expected, Jersey Met said.

Jersey MetCopyright: Jersey Met

Jersey's pest controllers who use rodent-killing pesticides will need to prove they're fully trained to use them from next July.

The States has signed up to a stewardship scheme which aims to reduce the risk the chemicals pose to wildlife.

In the UK, barn owls, kestrels and buzzards have died after preying on rodents that have eaten the poison.

From next spring, the Environment Department will run training courses so professionals can get the accreditation needed to use the pesticides.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Guernsey's States have voted to introduce a vehicle tax based on distance traveled.

It is not clear how the tax would function, but the States have decided, by 21 votes to 12, to allow the Policy and Resources Committee to develop a proposal and put it before the states.

One proposal that has been floated, but not agreed, was to track the distance covered by motorists via GPS devices.

It would replace the current system of fuel duty, where drivers are taxed based on consumption of petrol and diesel.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Friday will be mainly cloudy with rain at times and a brisk south-westerly wind. The rain is likely to be occasionally heavy, perhaps with a rumble of thunder.

The evening will remain cloudy and wet for a time with further outbreaks of rain, some heavy. However, the rain should ease by dawn.

Temperature: 17 to 20C (63 to 68F)

A children's charity is concerned about the rise in the number of sex offences that have been recorded against young people in the Channel Islands.

The NSPCC said 119 cases were recorded in Jersey and Guernsey in 2018 - up from 106 in 2017.

They obtained the data from police in Jersey and Guernsey as part of a Freedom of Information request.

Of the cases recorded by the two forces, almost 100 of them involved female victims and crimes against children aged 14 were the most common.

The charity also expressed concern that the figure does not show the full extent of the problem, as its own research suggests on average one in 20 children will experience sexual abuse.

It has urged anyone who is concerned to contact its helpline for advice.

The board which oversees pay talks for Jersey States expressed disappointment in planned strikes by some civil servants, saying they are an "unwelcome development" in ongoing pay negotiations.

The States Employment Board said the latest pay offer was based on "extensive consultation" with the unions.

Members of both unions could walk out in August over the ongoing dispute over pay.

According to Connentable Richard Buchanan, the SEB have been "working hard to try to find a resolution" with the Unions to avoid the "inevitable disruption" that would come from strike action.

Brett Sparkes from the Prospect union said members have yet to decide when any action will take place, but they were "prepared to take action" if no agreement could be reached.