BBC Radio Guernsey

Longer bans, maximum fines of £5,000, community service, and even prison sentences are all potential consequences of drink driving in Guernsey.

That's the messsage being driven home by officials in this year's campaign.

Banners with the poster below are going up on the Camp du Roi crossroads, The Grange, Southside and the corner of Queen's Road in St Peter Port and thousands of stickers are being handed out by Guernsey Police.

Mike Weir
BBC Radio Jersey, reporter

A drugs courier has been jailed for trying to smuggle three kilos of cannabis into Jersey.

The Royal Court heard the haul had a potential street value of almost £60,000.

Nicolae Gavan, 29, from Romania, had already admitted one count of importing 30 bars of cannabis resin.

The court was told he was stopped and searched at the harbour as he arrived from St Malo on Sunday, 21 August.

Bank records showed Gavan, who has no connection to Jersey, left his home in Northampton, crossed the channel at Dover, then drove to Rennes in France, before driving to St Malo and crossing to Jersey as a foot passenger.

His bank records showed he had made a similar trip in June.

Defending advocate Martin Elks said Gavan was of previously good character, truly remorseful, and took full responsibility for his actions.

Gavan was jailed for 21 months and will be deported at the end of his sentence.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Have you seen the Tree of Joy lights shining on the Weighbridge Roundabout yet? Here's the moment they were switched on...

If that has whet your appetite for the switching on of Christmas Lights then you can head to the Bridge at 16:30 or join Santa in St Peter Port tomorrow for a parade from 16:00 followed by the light switch on.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Former Scotland back Jack Cuthbert returns from injury as one of three changes boss Harvey Biljon makes has made for Saturday's visit of Doncaster in the Championship.

He starts on the wing in place of Conor Dolan while new signing Apakuki Ma'afu goes straight into the team at centre in place of Wasps loanee Guy Armitage, who is back with his parent club.

Image source, Sue Armes

The only change up front sees Uili Kolo'ofa'i come in for James Voss in the second row.

Jersey Reds: Katz; Watkins, Davies, Ma'afu, Cuthbert; McKinney, Fisilau; Thomas, Buckle, Kerrod, Campbell, Kolo'ofa'i, Freeman (capt), Graham, Haining.

Replacements: Macfarlane, McCarthy, Tampin, McKern, Argyle, Hardy, Dudley.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey parents are getting new benefits from January, replacing the current maternity allowance with two separate new benefits. 

Image source, PA

These are maternal health allowance and newborn care allowance. 

The maternal health allowance can be claimed by the mother-to-be while she is off work before and after having her baby. 

The newborn care allowance can be claimed by either qualifying parent.

Newborn care allowance will be flexible, allowing parents to split the allowance into two or three periods which can be switched between them. 

Additionally, mothers will be able to claim a maternity grant to receive some help with the cost of having a baby. 

The maximum combined period of benefit available to new parents is increasing from 18 weeks to 26 weeks and the maximum weekly rate of benefit will increase from £150.43 to £206.43. 

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Work to fix the broken ends of an undersea internet cable to Jersey should be finished by "early next week" says Jersey Telecom.

Image source, JT

Three cables were broken on Monday night and a repair ship is working on the first one.

The island is now relying on a single link to France for its internet connection.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Guernsey FC could bring in loan players from Bristol City after agreeing a tie-up with the Championship club.

The deal, which also includes helping island-based coaches and young players, came about through City's Guernsey-based chairman Steve Lansdown.

Image source, Fran Torode

Guernsey FC boss Tony Vance has had talks with City manager Lee Johnson about the possibility of bringing in players to his side.

"It's well documented that we struggle away from home with getting players, so they're only a phone call away. Somebody from Bristol City might be boosting our numbers, which will be much needed when I've looked at every resource possible in Guernsey."

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

How does £50,000 turn into £130,000? That's the question facing Guernsey States which is trying to work out how the cost of a new junction ballooned.

Image source, Richard Lord

The changes to the entrance to the car park at Salerie Corner were prompted by the death of a cyclist in 2013. 

Environment and Infrastructure Committee President Barry Brehaut has made no secret of the fact the initial price was too low and had warned it would be more like £80,000.

But now it seems this too was wide of the mark thanks to extra street lighting, CCTV cameras, stainless steel railings to protect pedestrians, weather delays and the additional costs of the planted areas.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Championship side Jersey Reds have signed Tonga international back Apakuki Ma'afu until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old centre is the third Tongan to join Jersey's squad after Samisoni Fisilau and Uili Kolo'ofa'i.

Image source, Getty Images

Jersey have suffered injuries to Lewis Robling, George Eastwell and Regan King, while Samoan centre Fautua Otto was sacked after being jailed.

"We needed to bring in a player and I think he'll be a very good fit," Jersey boss Harvey Biljon said.

BBC Radio Guernsey

We're testing your local knowledge with a series of mystery doors to identify over the advent season. Check our Facebook page, external to comment.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

We live in such beautiful islands - join other islanders in showing off the great difference day by day in where we live by joining the BBC Weather Watchers.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Diana Beaumont, wife of John Beaumont the late Seigneur of Sark, has died peacefully at home after a "long and happy life" said her family.

Mrs Beaumont, who was 80, lost her husband Michael in July after he had served for more than 40 years as the seigneur.

Her funeral will be held on Monday next week at St Peter's Church in Sark.

Seigneur is the French word for Lord.

After it was revealed the work to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety at Salerie Corner cost £130,000 - up from an original estimate of £50,000 - the president of the Scrutiny Management Committee suggested it may be something his committee look into.

Simon Fairclough
Guernsey Political Reporter

Guernsey and Alderney politicians have voted 21-19 against selecting students for secondary schools at the age of 11 based on ability.

It follows two days of debate and speeches from 37 of the island's 40 politicians.

The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture are now left to work up proposals based on the previous resolution of the States back in March.

This included replacing the 11-plus with effect from September 2019.

But many questions lie ahead - including how many schools will be required to deliver any new system of education, the future of The Grammar School and whether the La Mare de Carteret schools should be rebuilt.  Not to mention the role of the island's colleges.

And, politically, can the current members of the committee work together cohesively to bring back the options and one proposal States members can back when this returns to the assembly in June 2017?

BBC Radio Guernsey

BBC Radio Guernsey

Motion to continue selection at 11 in Guernsey's education system:

Pour (for)

Deputies Peter Ferbrache, Jan Kuttelwascher, Joe Mooney, Lyndon Trott, Paul Le Pelley, Neil Inder, Mary Lowe, Jeremy Smithies, Richard Graham, Barry Paint, Mark Dorey, Al Brouard, Andrea Dudley-Owen, David De Lisle, Heidi Soulsby, Robert Prow and Victoria Oliver and Alderney representatives Louis Jean and Graham McKinley.

Contre (against)

Deputies Dawn Tindall, Barry Brehaut, Rhian Tooley, John Gollop, Charles Parkinson, Lester Queripel, Michelle Le Clerc, Marc Leadbeater, Jennifer Merrett, Gavin St Pier, Jane Stephens, Carl Meerveld, Matt Fallaize, Laurie Queripel, Sarah Hansmann Rouxel, Chris Green, Jonathan Le Tocq, Emilie Yerby, Shane Langlois, Lindsay de Sausmarez and Peter Roffey.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

The use of the 11-plus exams for selection in Guernsey's education system will end, following a States vote.

The island's government agreed to end selection at 11 in March, but following the election in April the issue was brought back for another vote.

A move to overthrow that decision was defeated 21-19.

Reports on the future of the education estate, including the potential closure of a secondary school, are due before the States before the end of 2017.

This will include the potential £64m redevelopment of La Mare de Carteret schools.

The States has confirmed its decision to end the 11-plus after a move to overturn it was lost 19-21.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Guernsey's government-run museums have seen another increase in visit numbers.

The three sites are the most popular they've been in 24 years.