Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands

BBC Weather

Staying fine on Tuesday evening with plenty of late sunshine, but staying rather breezy. It will then be dry overnight with mainly clear skies. The brisk winds will start to ease slightly.

Minimum temperature: 7 to 10C (45 to 50F).

On Wednesday, it will be another dry and fine day with plenty of sunshine, but there could be a little patchy cloud developing. The winds will be lighter.

Maximum temperature: 13 to 16C (55 to 61F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

BBC Radio Guernsey

The charity Drug Concern, external is to rebrand as In-dependence and will soon be helping people in Guernsey who believe they have a gambling problem.

The charity said it was to use a grant from the Christmas lottery to train its counsellors as their skills were also seen as suitable for treating gambling addictions.

Scratch cards made the States £9.6m in 2017, and the extent of Guernsey's gambling problem is currently being assessed by the Health Committee.

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey teaching union has ruled out joining colleagues from another union on strike this week.

Members of the National Education Union are expected to stay away from classrooms on Wednesday in an ongoing pay dispute.

They asked members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) to join the walkout on Wednesday and Thursday to speed up a resolution.

An NASUWT representative said it was bound by law to give at least a week's notice before a strike.

BBC Radio Guernsey

A collaboration between two Guernsey and Jersey companies is bringing new locally sourced spirits to shop shelves.

Luke Wheadon, owner of the Bella Luce Hotel and Wheadon's Gin, has partnered with Mark Traft from Jersey's Bastille Bar and Brasserie, to create the Channel Islands Liquor Company.

They say they will use locally sourced botanicals to help celebrate the best of local flavours and life, whilst showing respect to the history and heritage of the distilling art.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Mobile data speeds in St Peter Port have doubled after the installation of new mobile technology on its main base station, telecommunications company Sure has said.

The site, above the Odeon car park, has been upgraded to provide faster data speeds and the ability to handle additional capacity.

The new technology will provide data speeds of over 400mbps on compatible mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone XS or recent Samsung Galaxy handsets.

As well as upgrading St Peter Port, additional investment has taken place across the Bailiwick, Sure added.

The firm said residents in Alderney and Sark would now benefit from superior indoor 4G coverage and increased download speeds thanks to new deployments on each island.

Image source, Sure

BBC Radio Guernsey

The broadcaster, Chris Packham - widely known for presenting the BBC's Springwatch programme - is in Guernsey taking part in the island's first BioBlitz.

The event will see a 24-hour biological survey of the east side of L'Ancresse area in an attempt to learn more about living species in the area.

Mr Packham says he likes visiting Guernsey because of its variety of European species compared to the south of England.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's most senior politician has met a number of UK officials to continue representing Guernsey's interests in the Brexit process.

Deputy Gavin St Pier says the meeting was a good opportunity to review the no-deal planning process and develop a plan for phase two of the negotiations.

He has also received a letter from Prime Minister Theresa May in which she says she's determined to achieve a future relationship with the EU which works for everyone, including the crown dependencies.

Twitter

Guernsey Water says it hopes to have the problem fixed within four to six hours.

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey politician is urging the States and the island's teaching unions to take their pay dispute to arbitration.

Members of the National Education Union are due to strike again this week in the ongoing row.

It's asked members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) to join the walkout on Wednesday and Thursday to speed up a resolution.

But Deputy Kirsten Morel is urging both sides to call in an independent body to settle it.

He says both sides have backed themselves into a corner and it could be a "way out".

Image source, States of Jersey

BBC Weather

A mainly sunny and warm day except for the odd patch of cloud.

It will be cooler around the coasts, particularly along the south coast.

Maximum temperature: 15C (59F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

Jersey Evening Post

Invasive bugs that pose the greatest threat to insects crucial to the human food chain could be lurking in dingy corners of sheds and garages, external – and Islanders are being asked to help root them out.

BBC Radio Jersey

The number of cars driving into St Helier in the morning has fallen by 5.1% since 2010.

It's been highlighted in the 2018 annual report and accounts by the States - as part of their policy to get more islanders walking, cycling or using the bus.

Just over 10,000 vehicles were recorded using the nine main routes into St Helier at morning peak traffic last year - 5.1% down since 2010.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Jersey Met say winds of force six can be expected.

Image source, Jersey Met

BBC Radio Guernsey

Amateur pilots, who could be offering flights for money, are being investigated by Channel Island authorities.

The so-called grey charters are coming under close scrutiny after the death of the footballer Emiliano Sala and his pilot David Ibbotson.

Mr Ibbotson was not licensed to carry paying passengers and the tragedy has shone a light on the world of such charters.

These are unlicensed flights including the use of foreign-registered planes for air taxi work.

The director of civil aviation, Dominic Lazarus, who's in charge of non-commercial flying, confirmed there was one ongoing case and several others were being looked at.

Image source, GETTY IMAGES/DAVID IBBOTSON