BBC Radio Jersey

An award-winning Jersey Battle of Flowers group is warning it may not be able to enter this year's contest.

St Clement Battle of Flowers Association said it has been unable to find space to build its exhibit for 2019 "despite best efforts".

In a letter to the chairman of the Jersey Battle of Flowers Association, Len Norman from the St Clement group asked if a covered space could be provided.

He wrote: "This is now urgent as if we do not get certainty by the end of next week... we will regrettably have to make the decision not to enter the 2019 festival."

St Clement has been entering the competition for 60 years.

BBC Radio Jersey

Localised stormy conditions are behind Condor Ferries' decision to cancel its high speed sailings between St Malo and Jersey this weekend.

The firm said wind speeds of 30mph were predicted which was "outside safe berthing limits for high speed operation" and the cancellations would affect services on Saturday and Sunday.

Condor says passengers will be notified and offered free transfers to alternative sailings where available or a refund where not along with help with rearranging travel plans.

The sailings affected on Saturday are the 09:05 departure from Jersey to St Malo, the 18:15 from St Malo and 19:30 return and the round trip on Sunday, scheduled to leave at 18:30 from the French port and return from St Helier at 19:35.

Former Southampton and England forward Matt Le Tissier reveals his secret talent - completing a Rubik's Cube in double-quick time.

John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey

Sark’s government won’t meet its own deadline to buy the island’s electricity company, according to the man leading negotiations for Chief Pleas.

Conseiller William Raymond says it’s very unlikely the purchase will be complete by the end of February.

Sark’s Government Chief Pleas agreed on Friday to write to Sark Electricity to start the process of formally valuing the utility.

Before that decision the government had only been given instruction to talk to the company - meaning members couldn’t write to Sark Electricity until now.

Conseiller William Raymond, who is spearheading the talks with Sark Electricity owner David Gordon-Brown, says Chief Pleas will probably have to borrow money to fund the purchase.

However, he admitted it was incredibly unlikely that the purchase will be complete in the three-month timescale that Chief Pleas set itself at the end of November last year, when a settlement was reached to keep the power on.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's planning minister is due to reveal his decision on whether the new hospital plan can go ahead on Monday.

The intention is to rebuild on the existing Gloucester Street site. The original scheme was rejected after advice from experts.

Deputy John Young is due to reveal his decision at a briefing at the town hall at midday.

• New Jersey hospital site debate rekindled after report
• Jersey States approve £466m hospital funding
• Jersey States submit plans for new £400m general hospital

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Jersey Reds head coach Harvey Biljon makes five changes to his side for their Championship encounter with Nottingham at St Peter.

Harry Morley starts at prop in place of skipper Roy Godfrey, while Charlie Beckett gets the nod at second row alongside Jerry Sexton, who takes on the captaincy.

Image source, Jacqueline Ranieri

James Newey comes in for the injured Mark Best in the midfield while Brett Herron is preferred to Aaron Penberthy at fly-half and Koch Marx gets his first start on the wing since being injured back in November.

Nottingham have former England winger Tom Varndell in their side after he was dual-registered with the club following his move to Leicester late last month.

Jersey Reds:Slowik; Marx, Newey, Ma'afu, Van Dam; Herron, Homer; Morley, Maddison, Atalifo, Sexton (capt), Beckett, Bartle, Argyle, Venter

Replacements:Selway, Godfrey, Rodman, Hatherell, Upfield, Mudariki, Penberthy.

BBC Sport

Guernsey tennis player Heather Watson has told Andy Murray to "stay strong" after the former world number one said he plans to retire after this year's Wimbledon tournament.

Murray also revealed an injury could mean next week's Australian Open is his last tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

In an Instagram post,, externalWatson said: "Keep fighting Andy, you’re got a heart of pure gold! You’re most definitely one of the most liked and respected players on the tour.

"You inspire me in so many ways and I don’t want you to go!"

The three-time Grand Slam winner is struggling to recover from hip surgery.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

A member of Guernsey's Economic Development Committee says the Flybe sale is "good news" for the Channel Islands.

Deputy Joe Mooney said he would be seeking assurances from the airline.

"I hope that we as Economic Development will be seeking a meeting with Flybe's management to ensure the continued connectivity with the Channel Islands," he said.

Flybe announced it was being bought by Virgin and Stobart Air under a consortium called Connect Airlines.

In Guernsey, Flybe operates a franchise with Blue Islands for the Jersey and Southampton routes and connects Guernsey with Exeter and Birmingham.

Guernsey Press

Nigel Farage has revealed that a drink in a Guernsey pub was a "pivotal moment" for Brexit., external

Jersey Evening Post

There has been a ‘massive increase’ in the number of islanders questioning their gender, external over the past four years – particularly young people, according to the head of an equality and diversity charity.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Leaflets are being distributed across Guernsey this week to help people better understand how the waste charges, which start next month, will work.

Any out 90 litre black bags put out for waste collection will need a sticker costing £2.50 and stickers for a 50 litre bag will cost £1.40.

Richard Evans, the lead civil servant for the waste strategy, warns people who deliberately and persistently break the rules will face a fine of £60.

He said this included "contaminating" the blue recycling bags with food waste, but it should not put people off recycling as in the first instance they would advise people about the error.

Anyone found guilty of flytipping could face a fine of £20,000 and a criminal conviction.

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey charity has raised a record breaking amount of money collecting old Christmas trees.

Jersey Hospice has raised almost £36,000.

The charity says it's been "a tree-mendous week" and thank everyone who registered and donated.

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, Getty Images

The Jersey Alzheimers Association wants the island to have its own dementia strategy, separate from any plan for the future of mental health services.

Politicians have been consulting with local charities on where they can make improvements to mental health services.

Sean Pontin says Alzheimers needs its own focus if the illness is to be taken seriously.

Dan Downs
Weather Forecaster

Friday in the islands will be a rather cloudy day with some drizzle possible at times.

It will feel milder than recently. A light north-westerly breeze.

Maximum Temperature: 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

Friday evening and night will be mainly dry with some clear spells, but generally quite a lot of cloud around.

It will turn increasingly breezy through what will be a mild night.