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A "predatory and manipulative" former police constable has been barred from serving in the force again following a misconduct hearing.

Ed Farrow, who was based in Bridgwater, Somerset, resigned before he could be dismissed for "inappropriate sexual relationships with vulnerable people".

Avon and Somerset Police said there was "no room in policing for officers who abuse their position".

The allegations were found to be proven in a misconduct hearing.

Actor Dionne Draper, from Bristol, is "desperate to perform" and is looking for writers to create new works during the lockdown.

Her semi-autobiographical play Dawta has been performed across the country.

Illustrator Steve Anthony is running a free online course on making children's picture books.

The Swindon artist is known for his Mr Panda series and he also illustrated the recent re-edition of Chitty Chitty Bang.

Viki Browne at Bristol-based mental health charity Many Minds is running an online workshop this evening to help anyone with their mental health during lockdown.

If you want to take part see the details below:

A new hotline has been set up to help vulnerable people get food and essential items during the coronavirus lockdown.

The We Are Bristol support number - 0117 352 3011 - is operating between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Up to 30 trained call handlers will provide support for a wide range of needs including getting medicines to people who cannot leave their homes and putting people in touch with follow-up support organisations.

There will be a callback option to limit waiting time during busy periods.

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Digital Journalist

Image source, Coconut Tree

Cafes and bakeries across Bristol have been cooking up a storm to show support for NHS workers.

Bristol bakery, Paradise Cakes, made this delicious care package of tray bakes.

They were delivered to the anaesthetic department at Southmead Hospital this morning.

The bakery plans to send them regularly to the hospital.

The Emerald Bakery in Weston-super-Mare sent 88 brownies to Weston General Hospital this morning to show their appreciation to the NHS staff there.

Thai restaurant, The Coconut Tree, in Bristol, has also been sending food packages to NHS front line workers in Bristol’s Royal Infirmary.

Image source, Paradise Cakes

Image source, The Emerald Cakery

Liz Lewis
Broadcast Journalist

Image source, Abbey Wenban-Pike

Three children have been bringing a smile to doorsteps in Hanham in South Gloucestershire by delivering sweets to friends and neighbours.

Hugh, 8, came up with the idea to combine daily exercise with the deliveries after his family bought the goodies for a stall at a community fair which has had to be cancelled.

Mum Abbey said she had been explaining to her boys that they must not go up to people during the lockdown when her eldest suggested dropping the sweets on doorsteps to avoid contact.

Hugh, his little brother Heath, 5, and cousin Bethan, 7, "had fun looking for money left outside and waving to friends" said Abbey.

"I'm so proud of them," she added.

The money raised will go to the Friends of Christchurch School Parent Teacher Association.

A woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s were found in the house in Shalbourne near Marlborough by paramedics.

A water firm is warning residents not to flush anything other than toilet paper down the loo amid the coronavirus pandemic after receiving "higher than normal calls" on the subject.

Wessex Water, which covers Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, said its customers had been phoning to ask if kitchen roll and wipes were alright to put in the pan after they had been unable to purchase toilet roll.

George Taylor, Wessex Water’s director of sewerage, said: “Our simple message is if you are using these items, please put them in the bin, rather than flushing them. They are designed to stay intact, unlike toilet paper which can break down in the sewers."

The firm said flushing anything other than paper could lead to sewer blockages and cause it to back up into homes.

Each year, it said it is called out to 13,000 blockages across the region, costing £5m to resolve.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, WILTSHIRE POLICE

We will be speaking to the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police Kier Pritchard this afternoon and we would like to pass your questions to him.

What questions around coronavirus and safety would you like him to answer?

Tweet us @BBCBristol or send us a message via Facebook by 2.30pm.

The interview will be shown on Points West tonight at 6.30pm.

Image source, Getty Images

Nurseries, shops, leisure businesses, estate agents and employment agencies in the Cotswolds will not have to pay business rates this year, the district council has said.

The authority said the move will support businesses hit by social distancing measures brought in to reduce the impact of coronavirus.

There will also be an additional cash grant of £10,000 for businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000, and £25,000 for businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000.

The council is aiming to have its processes in place to grant the new relief and award any grants by early April.

Image source, Nicole Jones

A café owner in Yate, near Bristol, is calling for professional kitchens to step up and make soup for the vulnerable.

Nicole Jones, of the Vintage Birdcage Cakery and Café, is currently making and delivering free soups to 200 residents across Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Dodington.

But she is now overwhelmed with orders, and is encouraging other chefs to step forward and help.

She said: “I have six people making and delivering soup, but we are now inundated with orders.

“If other local chefs with professional kitchens could make soup and deliver it to us, we would be very grateful.

“We need vegetable soups, and some with no dairy or gluten. We have plenty of storage capacity. Professionally-made cakes and cookies would also be welcome, but not food made in an ordinary kitchen.”

Nicole said that the old and isolated people she was helping were often overwhelmed by her deliveries.

She said: “They are often in tears, or they leave notes by their front doors asking for shopping items, which we feel obliged to help with too.

“There is one lady in Chipping Sodbury who has multiple sclerosis, and I have no idea if anyone else is helping her.

“It is becoming too much to deal with, so we are asking people only to ask for our soups if they really have no one else who can help them.”

If you are a professional chef who can help, please call Nicole on 07538 830446.

Image source, Nicole Jones

Liz Lewis
Broadcast Journalist

Image source, Venturer's Academy

A 12-year-old boy with autism has recorded a song "to cheer people up" and show them "there is hope" during the coronavirus lockdown.

Lakhile, who was non-verbal until he was six, goes to Venturer's Academy, a special school in Bristol where his love of music has been nurtured.

He chose the gospel song 'Nothing Like Your Presence' and did his own arrangement.

"I hope people are happy when they listen and maybe uplifted," he said.

Lakhile's mum Bonnie said he plays in church every Sunday, where he arranges all the music and leads the singing.

"Music is something he finds therapeutic," she said.

Trystan Williams, the school's principal, said Lakhile understands "a lot of his friends are dealing with huge anxiety" and "his music reaches people and helps them feel better".

"In school we say 'Work hard, be kind' and this for me is a light bulb moment which will remain with me for the rest of my life," said Mr Williams.

"He's come so far and has such confidence now, it's humbling to be part of the process."

His music teacher Alphonso Archer said Lakhile has "a brilliant ear" and can "listen to a song once then play it back perfectly".

"He can carry seven or eight layers of music all mapped in his head at the same time and then play them one at a time perfectly to scale," said Mr Archer.

As for Lakhile, he says music makes him feel "absolutely awesome".

"Maybe I was made for music," he said.

Image source, Cally Taylor

A crime fiction writer has created an online book buddy group for '"readers in isolation" during the lockdown.

Best-selling Cally Taylor, who writes as C.L. Taylor, said: "With many people living alone, I wanted to offer readers an opportunity to find a new friend."

She has so far paired up a dozen readers to talk about her novel Strangers and said they loved the idea.

The thriller is set in Bristol and brings together three characters who were all experiencing loneliness.

Cotswolds Police have been carrying out reassurance patrols from Chipping Campden to Cirencester, with one officer coming across this lovely countryside scene!

Always the first to educate, inform and entertain...

Here, the BBC Somerset team even give lessons in social distance dancing.

Two patients being cared for at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital have died after contracting coronavirus.

The hospital confirmed they both died on Sunday after testing positive for Covid-19.

Their deaths bring the total number who have died in Gloucestershire to eight, with 107 confirmed cases in the county.

An author says she wants to give readers a chance to "find a new friend" during the lockdown.

A sewing project making scrubs for doctors and nurses has been set up in Bristol.

Amanda George usually runs the social enterprise company, We Make Bristol, in Westbury on Trym.

She said: "Currently, GPs are not provided with medical scrubs, which they can wear over their normal clothes.

"But there is a demand for them, so they can wash them at the end of the day and get rid of any bacteria or viruses."

Image source, Getty Images

So far, Amanda has raised £600 and taken orders from 14 Bristol doctors.

A group of volunteers will now make them from patterns using ordered cotton and thread.

Their Gofundme page can be found here., external

Image source, Getty Images

Exmoor National Park Authority has thanked people for following government advice and largely staying away from the beauty spot over the weekend.

National Park rangers worked with police officers from Somerset and Devon to offer information and advice to a small number of walkers, just a week after huge crowds were seen at national parks, prompting concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

“We’re extremely grateful to everyone for foregoing their visits to the national park over the weekend and until restrictions lift," said access and recreation manager Dan Barnett.

He added: "The importance of these places for people’s health and well being cannot be underestimated and we fully appreciate the sacrifice many are making to protect fellow citizens."