The father of a 19-year-old man man found dead in the Avon says the river is Bath's own serial killer.

Henry Burke, 19, from Ripon in North Yorkshire, was last seen leaving Zero Zero nightclub in Bath in November.

His father, Paul, is calling for better safety measures after a series of people drowned there over the last eight years. 

Paul Barltrop
Political Editor, West of England

One of UKIP's biggest donors, the millionaire Arron Banks, says he's been suspended from the party after his outspoken criticism of its new leader and its only MP. 

But a UKIP spokesman said Mr Banks had failed to renew his membership and it had lapsed.

Political Editor Paul Barltrop writes:

The UKIP donor Arron Banks is influential in UKIP - because of his money. 

The South Gloucestershire businessman and political donor rose to prominence in 2014 with a £1m donation to the party.  

He also played a big role in last year's EU referendum, running a call centre campaigning for a Leave vote from his offices at Cribbs Causeway.

He's a strong supporter of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, but not of his successor Paul Nuttall who he's described as 'quite weak'.

Arron Banks has talked of setting up a new political movement; this may be his chance.

The death of a man found in the River Avon has been ruled accidental.

Henry Burke, 19, from Ripon in North Yorkshire, was last seen leaving Zero Zero nightclub in Bath in November.

Image source, Avon and Somerset Police

Bristol Businessman John Savage has announced his Independent candidacy for the Bristol Metro Mayor role.

He joins five other candidates from the main parties who have already declared. 

The elections take place in May and the winner will be in charge of a new authority responsible for the region's housing and transport. 

Mr Savage said: "It is a huge opportunity for the West of England and we cannot afford to waste it."

If he wins, he plans to focus on infrastructure, public transport and housing

Image source, John Craig

Image source, Getty

What will a quarter of a million people bring to Cheltenham Racecourse? An appetite!

Not just for the action during the four-day festival - the pinnacle of the hunt racing calendar - but also for tonnes of food and gallons of drink.

Some 260,000 people are expected in Cheltenham this week for the festival which injects £100m into the local economy.

The UKIP donor Arron Banks has tweeted that he has been suspended from the party.

He claims it's because he said the current leadership "couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding".

Yesterday we told you how fly-grazing has become an increasing problem in Somerset in recent years.

Now Mendip District Council has adopted new powers which will allow it to remove abandoned horses from council land.

The decision was made at a meeting last night.

Artist Paul Kidby, who is helping to create a larger-than-life bronze statue of Sir Terry Pratchett, says the pair had a relationship based on mutual respect.

Paul illustrated Sir Terry's Discworld publications until the author died in 2015.

 "I loved his writing and he liked my drawings," he says.  

 A small number of busts are being cast as a trial run for a life-size statue which will be placed in Salisbury.

It's just a few hours until the first race of this year's Cheltenham Festival gets under way.

But fans descending on the ground will face new measures to clamp down on rowdy drinking.

Image source, Getty Images

Detectives are continuing to study CCTV footage for clues after a man was killed in Trowbridge at the weekend. 

Jordan Taylor, 25,  from nearby Hilperton, and a friend were both attacked by another man in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

Mr Taylor died from stab wounds while his friend suffered minor injuries.

The force has launched a murder inquiry and set up a major incident room at Trowbridge Police Station.  

Image source, Wiltshire Police

The likeness of a much loved West Country author is being cast in bronze. 

Sir Terry Pratchett died two years ago, aged 66, eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 

During his career he wrote more than 70 books, including the extraordinary Discworld series. 

A small number of busts - trademark hat included - are being cast as a trial run for a life-size statue which will be placed in Salisbury, not far from the author's home.

The Cheltenham Festival begins today with 260,000 people expected at the town's racecourse over the next four days.

Organisers say it's the UK's fourth biggest sporting event in terms of total customers.

Image source, AFP

The feature race takes place each day at 3.30pm with the festival's showpiece contest, the Gold Cup, on Friday.

Click here if you'd like to see BBC coverage info .

Good morning from your Local Live team in the West.

We will be bringing you all the latest in news, sport, travel and weather from across the region until 10pm tonight.

Here's Bee Tucker with the forecast.