Sung at carol concerts across the world the Christmas classic ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ has a surprisingly West country origin.

Dr Ian Coates, from the University of Bristol, has discovered that the song's roots are "firmly planted in the West country, possibly originating from Somerset in Tudor times, but no-one knows for sure".

However, he added that we wouldn't have recognised it as the version we all know and love until the 1930s when it was arranged by Arthur Warrell, a former Director of Music at the University.

Although the lyrics date back much further, the arrangement penned by Warrell in 1935 is believed to be the first time the score was documented, and he was awarded the copyright in 1939 – the year of his death.

Unison claims the move could have a 'detrimental impact on patient care'.

Image source, HBO

For the past seven seasons the characters of Game of Thrones have been worried that 'winter is coming' and now scientists from Bristol University can finally tell them when.

They have developed a climate model mapping out the weather of the fictional world. The results show that North of the Wall has a climate in winter similar to that of Lapland, whereas Casterly Rock, the stronghold of the scheming Lannisters, has a climate similar to that of Houston, Texas, and Changsha in China.

The model also predicts what will happen to the weather due to increases in carbon dioxide and methane emissions from dragons.

It might seem a bit of fun but Professor Dan Lunt said the model shows how they can simulate the climate of the world in the future.

Image source, Dan Lunt, University of Bristol

A tree surgeon who installed spikes on a tree in Bristol to prevent pigeons from messing on residents' cars says the move was a last resort.

Rob Lee said managers of the development in Pembroke Road, Clifton, had tried hanging CDs in the tree, thinning the branches and even installed a mechanical plastic owl with a moving head to deter the birds.

He said: "All these things made a slight difference but unfortunately the cars and the footway that people had to walk on to this particular property was still absolutely covered at the end of every early morning to the point where people could not safely drive the vehicles because their windscreens were that covered."

The polycarbonate bird spikes were attached to the tree in 2014 on the advice of a pest controller, but have recently attracted criticism after a photo was posted on social media.

Karen Gardner
BBC Wiltshire

A number of businesses, based near junction 16 of the M4, have told BBC Wiltshire that roadworks have been having a major impact on their trade.

This is an £11.5m scheme that got underway around 14 months ago.

The Borough Council is trying to improve access to the newer areas of urban growth in North Wiltshire and Swindon, and reduce congestion and delays at the junction itself.

The work includes adding a right-turn for Swindon Road traffic, a new signalled junction and widening slip roads..

But an ambitious project like this obviously takes a long time, and has a major impact whilst it's ongoing.

The latest major stage of work at Lydiard Fields has just been completed - and people working nearby say they have seen an improvement in traffic flow since.

But the project overall isn't due to finish until Spring.

Yogscast, the Bristol-based online gaming channel, has raised millions for charity by playing a marathon gaming session, which is live streamed around the world.

The team had aimed to raise $4m over the month of December through its annual 'Jingle Jam' but this year smashed the target in just two weeks.

Gamers donate and in return get access to the channel's latest games bundle.

Running since 2011 Jingle Jam donates the money to seven charities including Wallace & Gromit's Children's Foundation.

Police in Wiltshire say an operation to target drugs crime in Salisbury has made a big difference.

Yesterday, 20 drug dealers were sentenced following one of the biggest operations ever undertaken by Wiltshire Police to target the supply of class A drugs.

Yesterday we brought you news of a Twitter row which erupted in Bristol after spikes were installed on tree branches to deter pigeons.

The move has divided opinion with some social media users branding them "idiotic" and others siding with residents fed up with the birds pooing on their cars.

The inventor of the spikes told BBC Radio 4 why it's the "humane solution".

Image source, Google

Plans for Bristol's tallest building will be considered by planners later today., external

The 26-storey tower block with 375 flats will be built on the former ambulance station site near Castle Park. It would be just under 100 meters tall.

The proposals have been submitted by property development company, Linkcity, along with Bristol City Council, external and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Some 75 of the units are classed as ‘affordable homes’ in the plan, with 58 set aside for social rent and 17 for shared ownership.

The scheme has been criticised for not providing enough three-bedroom homes, but planing officers said while this is "regretted" the scheme will "provide a different offer to the city".

A cargo vessel detained in Gloucestershire for six months over concerns for crew welfare has set sail once again.

The Panama-registered Tahsin was held by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, after inspectors from the International Transport Workers' Federation found the crew had been drinking seawater, and allegedly ate out-of-date food.

Volunteers from the seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea visited the crew twice a week to provide them with supplies during their time in the UK.

They say the ship has a new captain and it's now on its way to Tuzla in Turkey for repairs.

BBC Radio Somerset: Musgrove Park Hospital has had an unprecedented increase in demand on its A&E services this year.

BBC Radio Bristol: Plans for a new tallest building for the city go before councillors later.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire: Gloucester Rugby Club is standing by its head coach and one of its players after an alleged incident in a nightclub.

BBC Radio Wiltshire: Businesses based near junction 6 of the M4 say ongoing roadworks have had a major impact on their takings.

Image source, Yeovil District Hospital

Hospital bosses in Somerset are meeting later to decide whether to transfer non-medical staff over to a new company.

Yeovil District Hospital has defended plans to transfer around 350 support staff into a company called Simply Serve - following criticism from the union Unison.

Unison says it could leave staff vulnerable but the hospital says the union is "misinforming staff".

The hospital's board will vote on whether to push ahead with creating the company - which it would own.

Lots of fog and mist across the West as we drove to work this morning, but it's much milder.

Here is the weather forecast for today, Wednesday.

Things are staying mild for all of us for the next few days, as warmer air sweeps across the West.

Temperatures tomorrow are expected to reach 12 degrees for some.

After five and a half years away, Ryan Pollard is finally back home.

He had been forced to live in a care home in Gloucester as his family's home in Hartcliffe, Bristol, wasn't suitable.

The Pollards had their home completely transformed on the DIY SOS television programme back in March, but getting him the right care package to move in has taken a little bit longer.

His family had been visiting him in Gloucester every single day, but now he's home for Christmas.

Wiltshire and Swindon's PCC, Angus Macpherson, says he is "delighted" with government plans to increase police funding by raising council tax.

PCCs are going to be given the power to add as much as £12 to the annual council tax bill.

In Wiltshire, Angus said the most he could previously add to a council tax bill was £3.24 per band D household.

He now says a consultation will take place with local residents to decide how much will be added to council tax bills.

Lee Johnson, 36, has ordered a bottle of Barca Velha Red 2004 which is reportedly a favourite of Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho.

His Bristol City side welcome the Premier League club to Ashton Gate in the League Cup tomorrow.

"We have done the due diligence and realised Jose likes this particular bottle that has to be poured by an expert," he said.

"So hopefully he'll come in and have a little chat with me and I'll try to pick his brain for five or 10 minutes.

"He's absolutely at the top of his game, with world-class managerial qualities. Any young coaches like myself of course naturally try and emulate coaches like that."

The decision to introduce spikes on tree branches to deter pigeons from roosting outside flats in Bristol has sparked a Twitter storm.

The spikes on Pembroke Road, Clifton, Bristol, were erected by the management company of nearby Bartlett Court flats to protect residents' "expensive cars".

Here's what some social media users have had to say about the issue:

This roaming stag was captured by a remote camera at a house on the edge of Emoor.

Wildlife expert Dr Jochen Langbein, external, from Somerset, has been tracking Exmoor stags for many years.

The curious animal wandered into the garden, undeterred by the lights, and dislodged a bird feeder with his antlers.

He even posed for a photo before wandering off.