Summary

  • Updates from across the West of England on Wednesday 8 February 2017

  1. Trowbridge chemical incident: "Almighty bang"!published at 01:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2017

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  2. Trowbridge chemical incident: 'Bigger stash foundpublished at 22:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

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  3. Weather for the West of England for Thursdaypublished at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    That's the end of our scheduled posts for this evening.

    If anything happens in Trowbridge during the rest of the evening we'll post it here.

    Our regular Local Live service will restart at 7am.

    Media caption,

    Watch: West weather forecast for 8 February

  4. Trowbridge chemical incident: Controlled explosion still delayedpublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Damien Bence from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said it could still be another two hours before bomb disposal experts carry out a controlled explosion at the site.

    He described the counting of wartime incendiary devices as they are carefully dug out of the ground as "slow work".

    Bomb squad vanImage source, Trowbridge Fire Station
    Fire engine at cordonImage source, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
  5. Hartpury College emus lay first batch of eggspublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: The emus at Hartpury College

    Two new emus at an agricultural college near Gloucester have laid their first-ever batch of eggs. 

    Six eggs, which look similar to avocados, have been laid by Wendy and Wanda, who joined the animal collection at Hartpury College in July. 

    The eggs will be incubated for about 55 days by the male emu, Buddy. Female emus can lay up to 30 eggs in the breeding season, every few days.  

  6. Trowbridge chemical incident: Latest photo from the scenepublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Fire officers say a controlled explosion has been delayed while all wartime incendiary devices are counted.

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  7. Generations apart but a lovely sight to beholdpublished at 21:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Nursery children in Bristol are visiting their local care home to break down the age gap.

    The Becket Hall Day Nursery children say they enjoy chatting, playing and interacting with the elderly residents. 

    Media caption,

    Watch: Old meets young in Bristol

  8. Trowbridge chemical incident: Controlled explosion delayedpublished at 21:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Damien Bence from Dorset Fire and Rescue says the controlled explosion has been delayed as bomb disposal experts count how many wartime incendiary devices are located at the site. 

    He said there are believed to be "around 20".

    Mr Bence said until all devices are accounted for there will be no controlled explosion for at least half an hour, but it could be delayed for up to two hours.

  9. Bath Abbey's butterflies returnpublished at 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Paper butterflies at Bath Abbey

    Paper butterflies have returned in their thousands to Bath Abbey. 

    They first appeared last year when the Abbey was filled temporarily with them as part of the city-wide Forest of the Imagination Festival.

    The new installation is called iMigration 2, by Bath-based artist Anthony Head. 

    Each butterfly has a unique digital genetic code and wing pattern printed on it, exploring Anthony's themes of "migration, diversity and individuality".

  10. New Avonmouth M49 junction work could start before the end of 2017published at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    M49Image source, Rob Purvis/Geograph

    Work on a new junction on the M49 at Avonmouth in Bristol could start by the end of 2017.

    Highways England says its preferred option is a two bridge junction using the existing bridge at Farm Lane with a second bridge being built immediately adjacent.

    The two bridges will be incorporated into a single roundabout that spans the motorway with new access and exit slip roads built on both sides of the junction so that it connects fully with both northbound and southbound traffic.

    Planning permission has not yet been secured.

  11. John Glen: 'No risk of Stonehenge tunnel not happening'published at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Lorry driving past StonehengeImage source, PA

    The Conservative MP for Salisbury says the proposed A303 tunnel at Stonehenge is the "right option", and he "does not see the risk of it not happening at all".

    The Times, external revealed today that, based on a report by the Office of Rail and Road, the government has an £800m deficit in its road-building programme.

    A consultation into the scheme is running until 5 March.

    Quote Message

    You always see doubts expressed about big infrastructure projects. From speaking to government ministers, there is a clear resolve to deliver this project. We've waited 50 years for this A303 improvement. I don't see the risk of it not happening at all. It’s the right option subject to the details being right.

    John Glen, Conservative MP for Salisbury

  12. Trowbridge chemical incident: Fire service issue controlled explosion warningpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    An army bomb disposal team is due to detonate a number of wartime incendiary devices which have been found in Trowbridge.

    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to a building site in Wingfield Road at about 4pm after builders unearthed the glass bottles.

    The disposal team, which was called in from Tidworth, is expected to carry out a controlled explosion before 8.30pm, and a large amount of smoke will be generated. 

    People living in the immediate area are being warned to stay inside with doors and windows shut, and Wingfield Road remains closed to traffic.

  13. Trowbridge chemical incident: Photo from scenepublished at 19:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue says there will be a controlled explosion onsite at about 8:30pm.

    Fire engine at Wingfield Road, TrowbridgeImage source, Wiltshire & Dorset Fire and Rescue
  14. Exmoor Pony society issues warning to drivers after pony hit by carpublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    More than 200 people have shared this post on Facebook, external, claiming that an Exmoor pony was run over and killed, and the driver involved didn't stop and help it.

    The Exmoor Pony Society wants drivers to be more careful in the area. They estimate 15 ponies a year are hit by vehicles.

    Media caption,

    It is claimed a pony was recently left on Porlock Hill after being hit by a vehicle.

  15. Trowbridge chemical incident: Controlled explosion plannedpublished at 19:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Damien Bence from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue with the latest on the situation in Trowbridge.

    Quote Message

    The potential incendiary devices are still in the building site. A bomb disposal team is coming from Tidworth to look at the devices. They will make them safe by way of a controlled explosion onsite. There will be a bit of an explosion at about 8.30pm. Wingfield Road will remain closed until around 10pm.

    Damien Bence, Dorset Fire and Rescue

    Media caption,

    Listen: "A bomb disposal team is coming from Tidworth"

  16. Trowbridge chemical incident: Latest from fire brigadepublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

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  17. Trowbridge chemical incident: Fire service on what is happeningpublished at 18:25 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Here's Damien Bence from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has the latest on the situation.

    Media caption,

    Listen: 'We're dealing with an unknown hazard'

  18. Trowbridge chemical incident: Bomb squad to carry out controlled explosionpublished at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    We're hearing that the bomb squad are going to carry out a controlled explosion on the bottles at 7.30pm.

  19. Trowbridge chemical incident: Fire service attendspublished at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

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  20. Trowbridge chemical incident: Latest from fire servicepublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Damien Bence from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has just been on BBC Wiltshire. Here's the main points of what he said:

    • Builders uncovered glass bottles which caught light in front of them.
    • They called emergency services
    • Unknown chemical in a number of bottles
    • Bomb disposal team has been called
    • Along with police they have told local people to stay indoors, a couple of houses nearby evacuated

    We'll bring you the audio of that interview in a few minutes...