Guernsey plane U-turn not caused by 'lightning strike'
Woman indecently assaulted at bus stop
Guernsey power cut to homes overnight after electricity fire
Challenge to States over plastic use in Jersey
Aurigny defends new musical instrument policy
Updates on Friday 29 December 2017
Rob England
BBC News Online
Our coverage across the Channel Islands has finished for today, and indeed for 2017.
We'll be back on Tuesday from 07:00 with the latest news, weather, travel and sport.
You can sign up to get the latest news for your area from the BBC.
We hope you have a happy new year.
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Image source, States of JerseyA Jersey family left homeless after a fire destroyed their home have warned "how quickly and easily this can happen".
The Griffiths' family home in St Clement was destroyed by flames just before Christmas.
Speaking about the incident at Jersey Fire and Rescue station, Nadine Griffiths said: "I just want to warn others how easily and quickly these things can happen. You never think these things happen to you."
Image source, States of JerseyOn the day of the fire, Mrs Griffiths arrived home after picking her children up from school on a wet day and stacked washing baskets to the side of the cooker while she went to her bedroom to change out of her wet clothes.
"It was at this point that my son George ran to me screaming that the kitchen was on fire, as his bedroom is in line with the kitchen area. The fire was filling the small kitchen area so I knew there was nothing I could do.
"We had only had the new electric cooker for a couple of weeks."
White Watch crew commander Paul McGrath said: "Please be warned that your hob is not an extension of your work surfaces and should be left clear and isolated at all times when not cooking."
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Image source, States of JerseyA family left homeless when a fire destroyed their home have made a special visit to thank the firefighting "heroes" who helped them.
The Griffiths' family home in St Clement was destroyed by flames just before Christmas, leaving Nadine, Jamie and their two young children homeless.
Today the Griffiths family headed to the Fire Station at Rouge Bouillon, Jersey, to thank the crew who rescued and resuscitated their pet cat, Tinka, with a box of cupcakes decorated with the cat's face.
Firefighters had to rescue and resuscitate the family cat using a pet oxygen mask. Tinka has recovered well but will have permanent damage to her lungs.
A pet oxygen mask, like the one used to save Tinka
Mrs Griffiths said: "We wish to sincerely thank the fire service for rescuing and reviving Tinka – they are our heroes.
"Since the fire we have tried to salvage some belongings of sentimental value. Losing our home with all its memories has been extremely difficult."
The Griffiths have been staying with family since the fire, which was caused by items piled next to an electric oven.
BBC Radio Jersey
You could be paying up to 5% more for your weekly shop from next year, according to the Channel Islands Co-op.
The company has said UK financial forecasts suggest there will be a period of sustained inflation, and factors such as the weakened pound and increased fuel costs will mean food prices in the Channel Islands are likely to rise.
Mark Cox says they have been using special offers to generate interest and keep their prices low, but they will not be able to do this in the long term.
Quote MessageUnfortunately it's not something we're going to be able to continue to be able to sustain, we can see some quite big increases [in costs] coming through and we to try and manage those accordingly."
Mark Cox, Channel Islands Co-op, Chief Operating Officer
Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Ben Coulter is set to play for Guernsey FC for the first time in more than five years when the club host Hythe Town at Footes Lane on Saturday.
The 28-year-old midfielder returned to the island last month having moved back from Australia and has been training with the Green Lions.
Image source, Fran TorodeThe former Guernsey Under-21 captain played 11 times for Tony Vance's side before leaving in November 2012.
He is one of two changes to the squad, with Jason Winch also coming in to replace the injured Jamie Dodd and suspended Matt Loaring.
Guernsey FC squad: Dennis, Marsh, Geall, Fallaize, Mackay, Le Prevost, Winch, De La Mare, Coulter, Dodds, Skillen, Gauvain, Young, Rihoy, Pereira, Heaume.
BBC Radio Guernsey
More relaxed Sunday trading laws have not eroded islander's "family time", says the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce's retail spokesman.
It has been just over two years since controls were on shopping on a Sunday in Guernsey were abolished.
Ian Burdekin said the right balance has been struck with people able to both do their shopping and enjoy the weekend.
Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Jersey captain Scott van Breda has recovered from a broken cheekbone to return to the island side for the Championship clash at Cornish Pirates.
The South African, who joined the islanders in the summer, was injured last month and has missed six matches.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe is one of three changes to the line-up with Apakuki Ma'afu returning at centre in place of Oli Bryant and Uili Kolo'ofa'i starting at second row ahead of James Voss.
Jersey: van Breda (capt); Pincus, Ma'afu, Best, Worrall; Cope, Hardy; Woolmore, Selway, Armstrong, Sexton, Kolo'ofa'i, Argyle, Joyce, Rogerson
Replacements: Macfarlane, Godfrey, Atalifo, Voss, Bartle, Dudley, Bryant
BBC Radio Guernsey
Two garage doors were found with "white spray paint across them" in St Peter Port, Guernsey Police said.
It happened on Saturday, 16 December, in the Vauxlaurens and officers are appealing for witnesses.
Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Former Jersey forward Gary Graham has been called up to England's training squad ahead of the Six Nations.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 25-year-old, who moved to Premiership side Newcastle in the summer, is part of the 34-man party heading to Brighton next month.
He is the second ex-Jersey player in the squad with Exeter prop Harry Williams keeping in his place after the autumn internationals.
BBC Radio Guernsey
Police have appeal for witnesses after a man was assaulted at Amigo's Bar in the North Plantation, St Peter Port.
It happened at about 21:30 on Friday, 22 December.
BBC Sport
A Jersey strongman ranked third in the world hopes to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Jamie Stevenson came third in the recent World Natural Strongman competition in Finland.
It will be the first time the Strongman event features as part of the Olympics.
But Jamie says he has a way to go before he can qualify for the Great Britain team.
Quote MessageI'll be 34 then and at my strongest, so hopefully I can compete for Great Britain in that. It would be massive, and my first time going to an Olympics, so it's something to aim for."
Jamie Stevenson
Rob England
BBC News Online
Aurigny has announced changes in their policy around picking up musical instruments, which will need to be done from the baggage reclaim section, instead of at the aircraft.
The airline say this is in line with customs and security regulations, which must be followed at all times.
But a Guernsey musician, Dr Andrew Laurence-King, who travels the world with harps of varying sizes says the change is "disastrous", and no warning was given before the policy was put in place.
Here are some of your comments:
Quote MessageI know someone who comes over with a really expensive cello worth thousands. That just will not happen."
Dave Shorto
Quote MessageWhilst I do not condone bad behaviour, the musicians who have posted do have a grievance. It is about time that the Aurigny management realise that we islanders are shareholders in their business and they are servants of the people who employ them."
Nobby Hamon
Quote MessageMy bandmate's acoustic guitar was completely destroyed on the return flight back to London and then not even 4 months later we had a gig in Alderney so a metal flight case was purchased to ensure the safe travel of a different guitar. Upon returning to Gatwick (and only the 2nd time that case had been used) it was also ruined due to poor handling."
James La Huray
Quote MessageBecause of issues we have switched 2 acts this year onto Condor that usually fly we were charged £40 per guitar each way last time added £240 to the flights for 3 guitars, one act that is flying is actually stripping the neck off his Fender Strat to put it in his case, this should not be necessary to do that."
Ken Smith
A spokesman for the airline said: "This is based on our latest policy, which is about to be published on our website, and is guided by the current regulations and requirements that the airline must comply with, as well as our own risk assessments and Civil Aviation Authority advice we have received."
"We are happy to meet with any interested parties to explain this and have extended this offer to Dr Lawrence-King, who we did get in touch with about this matter back in September."
Due to predicted stormy weather and tidal conditions on Saturday, sailings will be combined to depart Guernsey at 14:00 and Sark at 15:00, The Isle of Sark Shipping Company has said.
This sailing will be reviewed at 10:00 and could be brought forward or cancelled depending on the conditions, it added.
BBC Radio Jersey
Passengers on some flights, which have landed at Jersey Airport this afternoon, have been kept in the aircrafts due to high winds.
A spokesman for Ports of Jersey said this was to "protect the health and safety" of passengers, crew and ground agents working with heavy equipment.
It added they would be allowed to leave as soon as there was "a gap in the weather patterns".
Ports of Jersey has advised those on the aircraft "not to panic" as this is a "routine procedure" in poor weather conditions.
The Guernsey aircraft apparently lost "some of its electrics" during the flight to Manchester.
Read MoreBBC Radio Guernsey
An investigation is under way to find out the cause of a fire at a sub station in Guernsey last night which left homes without power.
It happened at about 21:00, and is thought to have started near the rear car park of the Rockmount pub and the Cobo Bay Hotel.
Guernsey's Fire and Rescue Service weas called and about 20 homes in the area were left without power for several hours.
Image source, Jason MageeQuote MessageThe whole of our system is designed to protect itself and support itself. So at some point, if there had been no intervention, it [the system] would have tripped the whole sub station out anyway. That would have affected a lot more customers, as it happened we were able to isolate the plant."
Alan Bates, Guernsey Electricity chief executive
Guernsey Electricity said it would be carrying out a "thorough investigation", but could not speculate as to what caused it at this time.
BBC Radio Jersey
A Jersey woman trying to live "waste free" has challenged the States to debate the use of plastic in the island.
Image source, Getty ImagesSheena Brockie said she grew tired of the amount of household rubbish she was not able to recycle.
She said she was particularly concerned about the amount of packaging used for some products, and that Jersey was "very quiet" on the issue.
She said "as an island in the middle of the ocean", the use of plastics should be on the island's political agenda.
"Plastic use has been banned in France from 2020", she said, "in the UK there have been discussions on how the government regulates plastic use".
Adding the interest in the issue may have been peaked by the BBC series Blue Planet, which dedicated an episode to looking at the damage cause to the sea by plastics.
The States is yet to comment.
BBC Radio Guernsey
Aurigny has said it believes a flight that turned back to Guernsey this morning on its journey to Manchester was not struck by lightning, as previously reported.
Initial reports from the National Air Traffic Service said a lightning strike over the Isle of Wight had damaged electrical equipment on the aircraft.
NATS operators said they were told this by the flight crew, who requested a diversion once the plane entered a thunderstorm.
But after engineers inspected the plane a spokesman for the airline said although the flight did encounter a thunderstorm, they did not believe it had been hit.
He said the aircraft had been checked "as a precaution" and there was "no damage".
Ben Chapple
BBC News Online
Fast ferry services serving the islands are being affected from Saturday to Tuesday.
Three fast ferry rotations scheduled between 30 December and 2 January have been cancelled and two others are under review.
Quote MessageA prolonged spell of very stormy weather, caused by deep low pressure systems with resulting gale force winds, is forecast in our operational area into the first week of the New Year.
Quote MessagePredicted wind speeds, wave heights and sea conditions will be considerably above our safe and legal operating limits for high speed vessels and at times this may also impact our conventional services over the period."
Condor Ferries
The spokesman said an extra round trip between Portsmouth, Guernsey and Jersey would be operated by the Commodore Clipper on Monday.
He said all passengers affected by these schedule changes would be contacted.
Rob England
BBC News Online
A man has been arrested after he allegedly indecently assaulted a woman at a bus stop in St Peter's Village, Jersey.
It happened yesterday between 14:20-15:00 on La Grande Route De St Pierre.
Officers said the suspect was a 60-year-old white male, of slim build, about 5ft 6in tall and was wearing bright multi-coloured trousers and a black coat.
Police are appealing for witnesses and any available dashcam footage.