Summary

  • Internet cables cut overnight 'could lead to slower broadband'

  • Toddler death case adjourned

  • Care home evacuated after bin fire

  • Guernsey Holocaust 'impact' curriculum being created

  • Means-testing for nursery education delayed

  • Police hunt island chicken thief

  • Updates on Tuesday 29 November 2016

Live Reporting

  1. Means-testing for nursery education delayed

    BBC Radio Jersey

    The introduction of means-testing for free nursery education in Jersey is to be delayed for a year.

    In September the States approved means-testing of the States nursery grant, under which £3,914 per child is paid to private nurseries to provide 20 hours a week of free nursery education during term time, for one year.

    The States also decided that parents who use nursery classes in States primary schools should be means-tested as well.

    The Education department says the delay is so that "systems can be put in place".

  2. Latest headlines in the Channel Islands

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Data cables severed

    In an unprecedented event, three of Jersey Telecoms four submarine data cables - which provide data, broadband and telecoms services in the Channel Islands - have been severed, thought to be caused by a ship dragging its anchor across the sea bed. 

    Here's how services have been affected.

    Jersey

    • Its hoped work to expand Jersey's Cheshire Homes will help the charity run more profitably, with the organisation spending £2m on creating new bedrooms and facilities for the people it looks after
    • A Scrutiny leader says not increasing the minimum wage in line with the UK and Guernsey is immoral
    • The minister responsible for Jersey's tourism industry wants a more coordinated approach to promoting the islands events

    Guernsey

    • There are claims an un-coordinated approach to building projects in Guernsey means off-island staff have to be employed
    • Teaching of how the Holocaust affected the Bailiwick will be taking place in Guernsey schools from next September 
    • Drivers heading into town this morning might find their commute is a bit quicker than normal, as the Bouet reopens

  3. Care home evacuated after bin fire

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Jersey Fire and Rescue Service were called to a care home in St Peter last night after neighbours alerted staff to a fire in a bin outside the property.

    Two fire engines attended the blaze. On arrival firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire using water jets and a second crew entered the roof space of the care home using a thermal imaging camera to make sure the fire had not spread in to the property.

    Fire pictureJersey Fire and Rescue Service

    The fire service has praised the actions of the staff having evacuated the residents and their fast actions in calling the service.

  5. Cable cut 'unprecedented'

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    The director of corporate affairs from Jersey Telecoms says the damage to three power cables in one night is "unprecedented"

    An eventuality like this hasn't happened in the history of operating telecoms in the Channel Islands."

    Daragh McDermott, Director of Corporate Affairs, Jersey Telecoms

    It is thought the damage has been caused by a ship dragging its anchor over the cables.

    It's not yet known how substantial the impact on internet and telecoms services will be, but JT says it understands it's not the only provider to be affected.

    LandlineThinkstock

  6. Cable link: How are services affected?

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    A ship dragging its anchor on the seabed in the English Channel has cut the three main internet cables to the Channel Islands overnight.  

    In terms of the affected services, this is what we know so far:

    • Jersey Telecoms: Mobile and internet services could be slower when downloading data from off-island
    • Jersey Telecoms: Landlines could be affected when traffic is high
    • Sure in Jersey: "Issues and delays" with off-island calls, SMS and data services should be unaffected
    • Sure in Guernsey: "Issues and delays" with off-island calls, SMS and data services should be unaffected
    • It's not yet clear whether Sure's broadband services will be affected
    Mobile dataGetty Images

  7. Weather in the Channel Islands

    BBC Weather

    I told you it was cold.

    Here's how cold it is in Jersey...

    Weather chart

    And here's the forecast for Guernsey...

    Weather chart

  8. JT may not be the only company affected by severed cables

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Even if Jersey Telecoms isn't your service provider, your internet services may still be affected by the severed link to the UK last night.

    Three of the four international submarine cables were severed last night, thought to be caused by a ship dragging its anchor.

    There are lots of cables running across the seabed, and we understand that it is not just JT who have been affected in this way, with other cables also having been cut.”

    Daragh McDermott, Director of Corporate Affairs for Jersey Telecoms

    Fibre optic

  9. Helping abuse victims to escape their ordeal

    Jersey Evening Post

    The focus of this year’s Domestic Abuse Week was the effect that an abusive relationship can have on the children, who can experience inappropriate feelings of guilt or responsibility for protecting a parent, damage to the bond with their father, or a lack of engagement at school.

  10. Repairing undersea cables 'a tricky job'

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    Telecom company JT says repairing the cables will involve engineers going out in heavy winds to remove the cable from the sea, splice it back together and then put it back.

    Repairing cablesJT

    Daragh McDermott from the company said it is a "tricky, tricky job" that could take a while to fix but they have increased bandwidth to the one working cable so disruption should be kept to a minimum.

    He said: "We are confident we have enough bandwidth during normal times but during peaks there could be disruption and we hope customers will bare with us during those periods."

  11. Sunrise over St Peter Port

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    You wouldn't know from this photo that temperatures nearly dropped to zero last night.

    Somewhere out there our data cables have been cut...

    Guernsey sunrise

  12. Ships anchor severs undersea internet cables

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    Expect slower internet this week in the Channel Islands after three of JT's four undersea cables connecting the island to the UK were accidentally cut overnight by a ship dragging its anchor along the seabed.

    Cable

    JT say it could take up to a week to repair but are already working to send someone out.   

    The company says all internet traffic is now being routed via the submarine cable link with France and customers may notice "some impact on services".

  13. Police hunt chicken thief

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    On Monday someone broke into a garden in Jersey, cut the chicken wire of animal hutches and stole six rabbits and five chickens.

    Police are asking for anyone who may have seen it happen, early on Monday morning to come forward.

    It happened at a house in St Clement near Victoria Court in Georgetown.

  14. Internet cables cut overnight 'could lead to slower broadband'

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    A ship dragging its anchor on the seabed in the English Channel accidentally cut the three main internet cables to the Channel Islands overnight. 

    Internet users could face slower broadband as a result and telecom company JT says it could take up to a week to repair. 

    It is exceptionally unlucky and unprecedented for three submarine cables to the UK to be cut in the same day.

    Daragh McDermott, Director of Corporate Affairs for JT

  15. BBC Local Live in the Channel Islands

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Hello and welcome to BBC Local Live on a very chilly morning in the Channel Islands.

    We'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather from Guernsey and Jersey until 18:00 this evening.

    You can always get in touch by sending us an email.