BBC live page: Updates from the West of England

Summary

News, sport, travel and weather updates for the West of England

Live Reporting

Water restored in Tewkesbury after burst pipe fixedpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Image source, Getty Images
A burst water main which cut the supply to about 10,000 households for more than two days has been repaired.
Severn Trent Water said all customers, in the Tewkesbury area, were now reconnected.
It said people who were without water for more than 15 hours would be entitled to £30 in compensation.
Quote Message
We’re extremely sorry and sincerely apologise to everyone in the Tewkesbury area who have been so fantastic in bearing with us since the pipe burst early on Friday morning.
Severn Trent Water
War horse's gravestone and first holiday camp protectedpublished at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Image source, Historic England
Historic England has published a list of 20 unusual places it has protected this year.
Two of them are in Gloucestershire: a Roman Catholic church in Stroud, which was once a slaughterhouse, and a set of 18th-Century milestones between Painswick and Gloucester.
Both have been added to the National Heritage List for England.
Other intriguing places listed across the country this year include a Roman parade ground, a gravestone to a war horse and the gardens where Billy Butlin opened his first holiday camp.
Local newspaper headlines across the Westpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Image source, Getty Images
- Bristol Post:Why a Hartcliffe family have a Home Alone quote covering the front of their house, external
- Bath Chronicle: Two vans and a car in collision on M4 , externalcausing hour-long delays
- GloucestershireLive:SATs league tables for Gloucestershire, external: Is your child's school missing reading, writing and maths standards?
- Swindon Advertiser:Warnings of long delays on M4, external at Chippenham after Junction 17 crash closes motorway westbound
M4 westbound at Chippenham beginning to movepublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Highways England is working to clear extensive debris on the M4 near Chippenham after a rush-hour collision between three vehicles this morning.
One lane on the M4 westbound has now re-opened, between junctions 16 and 17.
Delays are expected to continue for some time.
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Call for more affordable homes to help homeless familiespublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Media caption,
Watch: Penny Walster from Shelter calls for longer tenancies
Homeless charity Shelter is calling for longer tenancies and more affordable housing after a new report showed nearly 2,000 children in the West will be without a home this Christmas.
Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire has almost 1,000 children in temporary accommodation - the highest numbers in the region.
Many will spend Christmas living in emergency B & B's and hostels with their families.
The charity says more action needs to be taken to help people in this position.
Over 200 referrals made to agencies over fears of sexual abusepublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Image source, Getty Images
More than 200 referrals, over fears of sexual abuse, were made to local agencies in our region last year.
Figures released by the NSPCC show there were 39 referrals in Bristol, 48 in Gloucestershire, 36 in Somerset and 41 in Wiltshire.
Additionally there were 15 referrals in Swindon, 16 in North Somerset and 11 in South Gloucestershire.
Nationally there was 31% increase in referrals for sexual abuse on the previous year, and the NSPCC estimates one in 20 children have experienced sexual abuse.
Quote Message
It is deeply worrying that so many children are potentially being exposed to such a devastating experience.
John Cameron, NSPCC
Serious collision on M4 Westbound at Chippenhampublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
There are serious delays to traffic on the M4 this morning, following an accident.
Three vehicles were involved in a collision on the eestbound carriageway at Chippenham - Junction 17 - and police have had to close the slip-road at Junction 16.
Traffic on the eastbound side of the M4 at junction 17-18 - Bath - is severely affected by congestion as drivers have slowed.
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Only one person applies for police chief jobpublished at 07:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Hayley Mortimer
BBC Radio Gloucestershire's politics reporter
Just one person has applied to become Gloucestershire's next police chief.
Rod Hansen is the only candidate to apply for the £136,000-a-year job.
He has been the temporary chief constable for the last six months following Suzette Davenport's retirement.
Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl, who's responsible for recruiting the role, said it was "regrettable" that only one person had applied.
But he said it's "not unusual" as it reflects the national picture.
Mr Hansen will be questioned by county councillors at a Police and Crime Panel later which is the final part of the recruitment process.
If councillors approve, he will be appointed as the county's next chief constable.
M4 Westbound at standstillpublished at 07:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Highways south-west say the M4 at Chippenham - Junctions 16 to 18 affected - still at a standstill while emergency services deal with the aftermath of a collision.
Eastbound traffic is now flowing again.
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M4 blocked both directions at Chippenhampublished at 07:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
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Accident on the M4 at Chippenhampublished at 07:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Breaking
Police are dealing with an incident on the M4 Westbound, near Chippenham - Junction 17.
More as we have it.l
Shrubsole loses out to Mo Farah at sports personality awardspublished at 07:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Image source, Getty Images
Sadly, Somerset cricketer Anya Shrubsole, one of 12 nominees for the main Sports Personality of the Year award, didn't win last night.
But she did take home an award - England women's cricket team won Team of the Year after their 2017 World Cup triumph.
World 10,000m champion Sir Mo Farah was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017.
A chilly start to Monday morning in the Westpublished at 06:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2017
Here's Dan Downs with today's forecast.
Media caption,
BBC weather presenter Dan Downs with the forecast for the West of England