Child tells how mum ‘hit her with a plank of wood’: A youngster told a jury she lived in a rat-infested home in south Bristol where her parents banned her from washing or using the toilet, didn’t feed her and she was regularly beaten with a nail-strewn plank. She also told a jury her mum and dad threw weekend parties, attended by strangers getting drunk who would hit her with bottles. More from The Post…
River Avon possible site for Bristol Hindu ashes: Bristol’s Hindu community may be able to scatter the ashes of loved ones in the River Avon in future rather than travelling to India’s River Ganges. The city’s new Lord Mayor Peter Main said providing a consecrated site was one of his first priorities. Parag Bhatt, from Bristol Hindu Temple, said it was difficult for a big family or elderly relatives to travel to India. The Environment Agency and Bristol City Council are trying to identify a site. More from BBC News…
Woodland memorial service held near Thornbury: A service to remember servicemen and women lost in action has been held near Thornbury in South Gloucestershire. It was the third annual remembrance service of the South West Woodland War Memorial, a circle of English trees planted at Memorial Woodlands. More from BBC News…
Bristol man’s good deeds must stop, says church: He is a good Samaritan who has spent thousands of pounds restoring a Bristol cemetery to its former glory. But now Stephen Jackson has been told by the church that he should not have carried out his good deeds. More from The Post…
Radio Bristol listener numbers fall: BBC Radio Bristol has lost a quarter of its listeners in a year, according to the latest industry figures. Industry analyst RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Limited) releases listener figures every three months. The latest reveal that Radio Bristol’s weekly audience “reach” between January 1 and March 31 this year was 144,000. Tim Pemberton, managing editor of Radio Bristol, said: “The good news is that the figures show, quarter on quarter, our listeners are listening for over two hours longer each week and we have increased our share of the available audience.” More from The Post…
Louis Carey feared release from Bristol City: Bristol City’s club captain Louis Carey has admitted he expected to leave the club this summer. With his contract coming to an end, the 35-year-old defender was prepared to say his farewells after their final game of the season against Burnley. And he was stunned when manager Derek McInnes told him on the pitch that he would be kept on for another year. ”The gaffer made me cry at the end with what he said to me – he hit a nerve.” More from BBC Sport…
Bristol Rovers’ Byron Anthony among seven released: Defender Byron Anthony has been released by Bristol Rovers along with six other squad members. Scott McGleish, Charlie Reece, Charlie Clough, Lance Cronin and Michael Boateng have also been let go. Kayne McLaggon has not been given a new deal but the striker will stay with the club while he recovers from a serious hamstring injury. More from BBC Sport…
News in brief
Woman, 88, suffers broken neck in road rage incident: Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after an 88-year-old woman suffered a broken neck after a car driver was involved in an angry exchange with a bus. The woman was a passenger on a single decker bus – the Number 18 service operated by First Bus – which was travelling along Southmead Road towards Golf Course Lane in Filton. The car driven by a woman is reported to have driven across the path of the bus forcing the bus driver to brake sharply. The driver of the car – described as a small dark coloured, rusty brown vehicle – shouted at the bus driver before driving off. The woman was thrown forward and hit her head on the back of the seat in front of her. She received hospital treatment and a broken neck was diagnosed.
Ferguson odds on for Bristol elected mayor win: Ladbrokes have quoted Bristol architect George Ferguson at 2-1 to win the mayoral election in November. “It’s slightly disappointing – I was hoping for longer odds as this stage – its hardly worth putting on a bet!” said Mr Ferguson. “Of course when the Labour candidate is selected the picture is bound to change, but I do expect to be their principal challenger, as it appears do they. There is a long way to go and I hope Bristol is spared too much politicking over the next six months.”
Bristol MP welcomes church funds: Bristol West MP Stephen Williams has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement that £90m will be made available to churches, mosques and other places of worship to ensure that they can fund alterations, which will soon be liable for VAT. The changes were announced in the March 2012 Budget and come into effect in October. “I’m delighted that the Government has listened to concerns about the impact of VAT changes on Listed Places of Worship,” said Mr Williams. “Britain’s VAT system always has and probably always will throw up anomalies which can have perverse effects; I am glad that the Coalition has taken action to ensure that listed places of worship continue to be able to fund alterations.”
Primarolo hands in bus pass support petition: A petition signed by more than 4,000 people has been presented to Parliament by Bristol South Labour MP Dawn Primarolo. The petition declares pensioners’ support for the concessionary bus pass and urges the Government to ensure the bus pass does not become means-tested in future. “The previous Labour Government introduced the free bus pass and I know how popular the scheme is,” she said. “The Government will need to respond to the concerns raised by those who signed the petition and I look forward to hearing what they have to say.”
Rubbish cleared in Eastville week of action: More than six tonnes of rubbish were removed from Eastville following a week of council-led action aimed at sprucing up the area. Over 406 households and businesses were targeted in May and May Gurney, the council’s waste contractor, carried out a major cleaning-up operation of the triangle area which included street-sweeping and the removal of fly-tipping. Avon and Somerset police also carried out patrols targeting anti-social behaviour and vice during the week of action.
