Summary

  • Updates from across the West of England on Wednesday, 5 October 2016

  1. Dry, cloudy and chilly!published at 22:00 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Ian Fergusson with the West's weather forecast

    That's it from Local Live for tonight, as we leave you here's a look at tomorrow's weather prospects.

    Have a good evening - we're back at 7am tomorrow morning with more of your news, sport, travel and weather.

  2. Watch: Ben Smith talks about his mammoth marathon achievementpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Ben Smith talks about his mammoth marathon achievement

    Runner Ben Smith has completed an epic charity challenge by running 401 marathons in 401 days. 

    Earlier today Ben completed his final marathon in his home city of Bristol, with around 350 people joining him on his very last run. 

    He told Alex Lovell from Points West that he was "overwhelmed" by the support he received and is now going to concentrate on the physical and mental "comedown" from his gruelling feat.

    Women's world record holder in the marathon, Paula Radcliffe, was among those sending their congratulations to Ben.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Paula Radcliffe congratulates Ben Smith

  3. Bristol park-and-ride subsidy defendedpublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    A decision to pay a park-and-ride operator some £400,000 a year, despite it not operating any bus services since 2010, has been defended. 

    The site at Long Ashton, near Bristol, was built in 1997 and leased to Park-and-Ride Limited (PRL) with the council subsidising it for the first six years. 

    The service was not profitable and the council ended up running the buses. 

    Councillor Mark Bradshaw said park and ride is "extremely important" and certain "costs are involved".

    Media caption,

    Watch: Councillor Mark Bradshaw defends the park-and-ride subsdidy

  4. Drummers bring taste of Africa to Gloucestershire collegepublished at 21:13 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Bana Kin perform for National Star College students

    Dancers and drummers from the group Bana Kin have been paying a visit to Cheltenham's National Star College. 

    The musicians come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ivory Coast and the West Indies. 

    They were at the college as part of Black History Month.  

  5. Campaigners save nursery from eviction by councilpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Children in nurseryImage source, Rocking Horse Day Nursery

    Parents and staff are celebrating after a nursery was granted a stay of execution

    More than 1,000 people signed a petition to save Rocking Horse Day Nursery in Warmley, near Bristol, after South Gloucestershire Council announced plans to close it in December.

    But at a meeting on Wednesday councillors voted unanimously to extend the notice period. 

    The decision will give the nursery time to secure another home.

  6. Stag carved into tree trunk at Somerset schoolpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Peter Phillips and the stag carvingImage source, Peter Phillips

    Minehead Middle School site manager Peter Phillips sent in this great photo of a stag carved into a tree trunk on the school's grounds. He's the man stood next to it.

    It was carved by the very talented Somerset chainsaw artist Matthew Crabbe. 

    Impressive, huh?

  7. Professional 'bodger' celebrates 28 years in the tradepublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Somerset man who makes the Wimbledon's net posts

    Skilled woodturner Roger Marwood from Somerset makes the posts for the nets at Wimbledon.

    His work also features in the Vatican!

    The professional "bodger" is celebrating 28 years in the trade.

  8. Bath hospital's new car park: Has it made a difference?published at 19:53 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Has a new car park at Bath's Royal United Hospital helped make parking easier?

    A new car park has opened at Bath's Royal United Hospital, with changes to payment options. 

    Are users finding it has made a difference to parking there?

  9. Grooming a cow for the Dairy Showpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: A cow being prepared for showing

    What goes into preparing a cow to be displayed at the Dairy Show?

    Well, at the The Moo'ty Parlour cows are groomed to "udder perfection".

  10. Meet the Clifton Suspension Bridge's first female bridgemasterpublished at 19:08 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Meet the new bridgemaster of Clifton Suspension Bridge

    Trish Johnson has become the first female bridgemaster of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

    She said it's "great" to be the first woman but said it's hopefully more to do with her experience than the fact she's female!

    She described the job as unique and said "there's so much variety in the job".

  11. 401 marathons: Congratulations from Paula Radcliffepublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Ben Smith reads a message from Paula Radcliffe

    Ben Smith finished his 401 marathon challenge earlier today in Bristol's Millennium Square.

    Shortly after completing the achievement he was shown a message of congratulations from the current women's world record holder in the marathon, Paula Radcliffe.

  12. Arrests after Bradford-on-Avon bridge crash incidentpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Damaged Town Bridge

    Four people have been arrested in connection with an incident which saw a car crash into a medieval Grade-I listed bridge in Wiltshire.

    On Monday a burglary took place in Leigh Park Road in Bradford-on-Avon where a car was stolen. The vehicle was later found crashed into the Town Bridge causing "extensive damage". 

    Wiltshire Police confirmed three men, aged 22, 26 and 35, and a woman aged 32, all from the local area, have been arrested in connection with the burglary and are in custody.

  13. Singing Children of Africa on tour in Somersetpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    A group of African children is visiting Somerset thanks to the help and fundraising of a local charity. 

    Educate the Kids works to do exactly that, right across the continent., external

    The touring group is made up of 28 children from the Mombasa region of East Africa, where the charity was originally founded in 1998.

    The children will join lessons in schools as well as performing to audiences across Somerset. 

  14. Watch: The moment Ben Smith finishes 401 marathonspublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Ben Smith crosses the finish line in Millennium Square

    A runner has completed an epic charity challenge by running 401 marathons in 401 days. 

    Ben Smith started his marathon challenge on 1 September, 2015. Injury did see him stop for a few days after running his 284th marathon but he was soon back on his feet. 

    Today Ben completed his final marathon in his home city of Bristol, with around 350 people joining him on his very last run. 

  15. Countess of Wessex visits Dairy Showpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Media caption,

    Watch: Sophie, Countess of Wessex at the Dairy Show

    The Countess of Wessex dropped in via helicopter to the Dairy Show near Shepton Mallet today.The event, held in the shadow of continuing uncertainty about the future of the industry, attracted hundreds of dairy farmers from across the country.  

  16. 401 marathons: Reaction to Ben's achievementpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    Ben Smith has just crossed his final finish line in Millennium Square after 401 days on his feet, completing a staggering 401 marathon.

    Here's how he did it.

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  17. Marathon man completes final challengepublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 5 October 2016
    Breaking

    Runner Ben Smith has reached the end of his mammoth marathon challenge.

    The 34-year-old crossed the finish line at Bristol's Millennium Square, completing his 401st marathon in 401 days. In doing so he has raised more than £250,000 for anti-bullying charities.

    Well done Ben!

  18. High number of rats seen in university's gardenspublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    The old saying "you're never more than 6ft from a rat in London" seems to be ringing true for a part of Bristol as well.

    In the idyllic Royal Fort Gardens near the University of Bristol there have been reports of an alarmingly high number of rats.

    When our reporter went to go and check it out he spotted this one lurking in the bushes! 

    Media caption,

    Watch: Rat spotted in Royal Fort Gardens

  19. Marathon man heading for final finish linepublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 5 October 2016

    He's covered 10,506.2 miles since 1 September 2015 - the equivalent of running from London to Sydney - and battled injuries including a long-standing spinal problem and pain in his kneecaps, heels and shins. 

    Now Ben Smith, 34, is on the last leg of his marathon challenge heading back to Bristol's Millennium Square for his final finish line.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Ben is nearing his final finish line