Bristol Rovers sign Josh Hare on a free transfer after the defender's deal with National League side Eastleigh expired.

The views of local residents and businesses are to be canvassed to create a "fair and affordable" parking policy across North Somerset.

The authority said it wants to look at the fairness of parking charges, and to explore the introduction of residents' parking in part of the county.

Initially it will set out a programme for the review before seeking the views of residents, businesses and organisations.

Councillor Mark Canniford accepted parking "is clearly a very emotive issue", adding he is keen to involve residents and businesses in this process.

Nottinghamshire and Hampshire draw after a third straight washout, while other games are also affected by bad weather.

Workers recall their time at the Coate's Cider factory in Nailsea as part of a history project.

Fines for dropping litter in South Gloucestershire are set to double to the maximum level allowed.

Council cabinet members are being advised to increase fixed penalty notices from £75 to £150.

However, the council say they are more focused on educating people rather than enforcement with only 11 notices issued in 2018 for offences including dog-fouling and dropping rubbish.

A discount of 50% will be applied for payment within 10 days.

The charges are an alternative to prosecution, although anybody handed one can challenge the notice in magistrates’ court.

Graffiti and fly-posting will also carry a £150 fixed penalty notice under the new policy, which is due to be agreed by South Gloucestershire Council cabinet on 17 June.

In March, the council became the first local authority outside London to introduce a £150 fixed penalty notice for motorists littering from car windows.

Image source, PA

Avon and Somerset Police will be using a new tactic to tackle crimes from theft to terrorism.

Highly visible police officers will be deployed in unpredictable ways as part of Project Servator, with the aim of disrupting criminal activity.

Officers will also be working more with the public to encourage reporting of suspicious or unusual activity.

Image source, Google

A new trail for walkers and cyclists could cause a disturbance to birds in a "protection zone" says the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The trail plan, which will be created in Chew Valley, has also caused councillors and residents to voice concerns.

The sustainable transport charity Sustrans’ plans were approved on June 5 by Bath & North East Somerset Council, despite these objections.

The trail, which is expected to bring in 30,000 visitors, will go along the Walley Lane dam road. The speed limit will be reduced to 30mph and the A37 to Bristol Airport carriageway will also be made narrower.

Iain Stewart, Sustrans South West network development manager, said the trail will be the first trail of its kind for Chew Valley and accessibility will be improved for people using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

In its initial proposals, Sustrans had hoped the trail would orbit the whole of Chew Valley Lake.

However, Chew Valley ward councillor Vic Pritchard said "landowners will not give consent." Eleanor Jackson from Bath & North East Somerset Council also shared concerns that the wildlife in the area could be affected by the new leisure trail.

Miss Jackson said more needs to be done at the planning stage to ensure the birds are properly protected.

A report from the council's planning committee said the proposal for the new leisure trail received 64 letters of support and 37 against.

However, despite the concerns, council members agreed with recommendations to approve the plans.

Rob Appleyard also from the council said: "We should be welcoming any piece of work that will encourage cycling and walking, wherever it is".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A former nurse who pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy will be allowed to return to the profession.

Florence Ngum Chi used a false birth certificate to apply for a provisional driving licence, claimed she was eligible to work in the UK when she was not, and claimed that she was an asylum seeker and did not need a student visa.

Miss Chi also provided false documents when she applied to work at Bristol’s New Cross Health Centre and earned more than £100,000.

Appearing at Bristol Crown Court in November 2011, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud and was handed a 12-month community order and required to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

In December 2012 she was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Miss Chi appeared before the NMC again last month and said she had learnt from her mistakes, which were made when she was young, naive and new to the UK.

She also told the panel she had lost the profession she loved, her home and her livelihood, and she was deeply remorseful.

The NMC panel said it was “in the public interest to allow a former nurse who has demonstrated insight, remorse and remediation for their actions the opportunity to practice again”.

Miss Chi will have to complete a “return to practice” course to bring her skills and knowledge up to date, and tell any potential employers she had been struck off.

The DIY SOS host is also fined after he admitted speeding and using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Criminals are re-offending in order to get back into prison because it is “safer”, according to Gloucestershire’s police and crime commissioner.

Martin Surl said one offender, a woman, wanted to go back to prison because she was “in a community where she felt comfortable”.

Another woman, who was younger, offended “within days of her release” because she “felt safer in prison at home”.

Mr Surl, the Police and Crime Commissioner, said there is a lack of accommodation for people released from prison due, and no one to integrate them back into society.

Currently, probation services support offenders to steer them away from re-offending, ensure offenders have somewhere to live and assess an offender’s financial problems.

Mr Surl however has previously said he is opposed to the service since it was partly privatised in 2015, claiming it is “broken”.

Mr Surl said: “Women, as well as men, are often freed with little or no money in their pocket, no place to go and no one to welcome and integrate them back into society. The result is a need to go straight back.”

Mr Surl is set to open a conference today which will look to enhance the re-homing process for offenders upon release from prison.

A man was robbed by a group of young people in Bristol on Friday.

The incident happened near the junction of Easton Road/Lawrence Hill, sometime between midnight and 01:15 BST on Friday 7 June.

The 29-year-old victim was punched in the back of the head and threatened with a knife by one of the group.

He had his wallet, mobile phone and house keys stolen and suffered minor head injuries.

Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Image source, Somerset Council

Panorama’s social care documentaries which were filmed with Somerset County Council are being screened in the House of Commons today.

The BBC programme documented the realities of how the care system is working over the course of 10 months.

Panorama followed the stories of people needing care and of the people trying to provide it.

Every MP in the country and members of two select committees have been invited to the special showing of the powerful films in The Commons.

They have also been invited to take part in a panel discussion about the future of social care featuring the county council’s director of adult social services, Stephen Chandler.

Image source, Zaha Hadid Architects

Councillors in Stroud will tonight decide whether to approve plans for a new wooden stadium for Forest Green Rovers.

Planning officers at the district council have recommended outline planning permission be approved for the new 5,000 seat venue near junction 13 of the M5.

Forest Green Rovers said the move would enable the club to progress to the Championship.

But a number of concerns have been raised about extra traffic, noise and light pollution.

Bristol Live: Bus crashes into building in Bristol city centre, external

Swindon Advertiser: Swindon MPs throw their weight behind Boris (but no a no-deal Brexit), external

Weston Mercury: Weston pensioner, 83, jailed for sex offences spanning 30 years, external

Gloucestershire Gazette: Yate mum praying for Cystic Fibrosis drug breakthrough for 4-year-old daughter, external

BBC Bristol: The Yate-based company Whirpool has been ordered by the government to recall half a million of its tumble dryers, over fears they could catch fire.

BBC Wiltshire: The organisation responsible for primary health care in Swindon has published a letter reassuring patients affected by problems at surgeries run by IMH.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire: Plans for a new eco-stadium for Forest Green Rovers could be approved by councillors tonight.

BBC Radio Somerset: A report on the best and worst seaside resorts in the country has put Somerset at the bottom of the pile.

Image source, Guy Bell/Shutterstock

A new artwork by Bristol's Banksy is to go on display at an exhibition this summer.

The Brexit-themed work features a customs arch "salvaged from Heathrow", according to the artist.

It can be seen at the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Image source, Avon and Somerset Police

A man wanted by police has now been arrested.

Jordan Brown, aged 25, breached a court order and failed to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.

He was due to attend court on 19 January in connection with a criminal damage case.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed Brown has now been arrested and thanked the public for their help.

Bristol Rovers sign central defender Tom Davies from fellow League One side Coventry City on a free transfer.